Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion comprising a first material. The body portion may have a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a front portion having a face portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity partially, substantially, or entirely filled with a cavity filling material associated with a coefficient of restitution greater than or equal to 0.7 when an initial velocity is greater than or equal to 100 feet per second. Further, the golf club head may include a mass portion comprising a second material, which may be different than the first material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/841,022, filed Dec. 13, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/701,131, filed Sep. 11, 2017, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 15/685,986, filed Aug. 24,2017, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/628,251, filedJun. 20, 2017, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.15/209,364, filed on Jul. 13, 2016, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/US15/16666, filed Feb. 19, 2015, whichclaims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/942,515,filed Feb. 20, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/945,560, filedFeb. 27, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/948,839, filed Mar.6, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/952,470, filed Mar. 13,2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/992,555, filed May 13, 2014,U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/010,836, filed Jun. 11, 2014, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/011,859, filed Jun. 13, 2014, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/032,770, filed Aug. 4, 2014.

U.S. application Ser. No. 15/209,364, filed on Jul. 13, 2016, is also acontinuation of application Ser. No. 14/618,501, filed Feb. 10, 2015,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,427,634, which is a continuation of application Ser.No. 14/589,277, filed Jan. 5, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,421,437, whichis a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/513,073, filed Oct. 13,2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,961,336, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 14/498,603, filed Sep. 26, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,199,143, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/041,538, filed Aug. 25, 2014.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/683,564, filed Aug. 22, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/598,949, filed May 18, 2017, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 14/711,596, filed May 13, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,675,853, which claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/118,403, filed Feb. 19, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/159,856, filed May 11, 2015.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/842,632, filed Dec. 14, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/263,018, filed Sep. 12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,878,220,which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/043,090, filed Feb.12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,821, which claims the benefits of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/209,780, filed Aug. 25, 2015, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/277,636, filed Jan. 12, 2016.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/842,583, filed Dec. 14, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/631,610, filed Jun. 23, 2017, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 15/360,707, filed Nov. 23, 2016, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 15/043,106, filed Feb. 12, 2016,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,533,201, which claims the benefits of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/275,443, filed Jan. 6, 2016, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/276,358, filed Jan. 8, 2016.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/703,639, filed Sep. 13, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 15/484,794, filed Apr. 11, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.9,814,952, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/321,652, filed Apr. 12, 2016.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/842,591, filed Dec. 14, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/687,317, filed Aug. 25, 2017, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 15/188,718, filed Jun. 21, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.9,610,481, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/343,739, filed May 31, 2016.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/462,281, filed Mar. 17, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/433,661, filed Dec. 13, 2016.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/478,474, filed Mar. 29, 2017.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.29/616,949, filed Sep. 11, 2017.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.15/802,819, filed Nov. 3, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/793,648, filed Oct. 25, 2017, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 15/791,020, filed Oct. 23, 2017, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 15/785,001, filed Oct. 16, 2017,which claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/502,442, filed May 5, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/508,794, filed May 19, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/512,033, filed May 28, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/570,493, filed Oct. 10, 2017.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/536,345, filed Jul. 24, 2017.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.29/622,326, filed Oct. 16, 2017.

This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/543,786, filed Aug. 10, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/548,263, filed Aug. 21, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/549,142, filed Aug. 23, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/596,312, filed Dec. 8, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/611,768, filed Dec. 29, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/615,603, filed Jan. 10, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/616,896, filed Jan. 12, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/617,986, filed Jan. 16, 2018.

The disclosures of all of the above referenced applications areincorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION

The present disclosure may be subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the present disclosure and its related documents, as they appear inthe Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all applicable copyrights.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to golf equipment, and moreparticularly, to golf club heads and methods to manufacturing golf clubheads.

BACKGROUND

Various materials (e.g., steel-based materials, titanium-basedmaterials, tungsten-based materials, etc.) may be used to manufacturegolf club heads. By using multiple materials to manufacture golf clubheads, the position of the center of gravity (CG) and/or the moment ofinertia (MOI) of the golf club heads may be optimized to produce certaintrajectory and spin rate of a golf ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a golf club head according to anembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts a left view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 depicts a right view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 9-9.

FIG. 10 depicts another rear view of the example golf club head of FIG.1.

FIG. 11 depicts a top view of a mass portion associated with the examplegolf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 depicts a side view of a mass portion associated with theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 depicts a side view of another mass portion associated with theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 depicts a rear view of a body portion of the example golf clubhead of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 depicts a cross-sectional view of a face portion of the examplegolf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 depicts a cross-sectional view of another face portion of theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 depicts one manner in which the example golf club head describedherein may be manufactured.

FIG. 18 depicts another cross-sectional view of the example golf clubhead of FIG. 4 along line 18-18.

FIG. 19 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 20 depicts another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 21 depicts yet another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 22 depicts a front view of a golf club head according to anembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 23 depicts a rear view of the example golf club head of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 depicts yet another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 25 depicts yet another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 26 depicts an example of curing a bonding agent.

FIG. 27 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a golf club headaccording to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein.

FIG. 28 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a golf club headaccording to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein.

FIG. 29 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a golf club headaccording to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein.

FIG. 30 depicts yet another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures may not be depicted to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

In general, golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club headsare described herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In the example of FIGS. 1-14, a golf club head 100 may include a bodyportion 110 (FIG. 14) having a toe portion 140, a heel portion 150, afront portion 160 with a face portion 162 (e.g., a strike face) having afront surface 164 and a back surface 166, a back portion 170, a topportion 180, and a sole portion 190. The toe portion 140, the heelportion 150, the front portion 160, the back portion 170, the topportion 180, and/or the sole portion 190 may partially overlap eachother. For example, a portion of the toe portion 140 may overlapportion(s) of the front portion 160, the back portion 170, the topportion 180, and/or the sole portion 190. In a similar manner, a portionof the heel portion 150 may overlap portion(s) of the front portion 160,the back portion 170, the top portion 180, and/or the sole portion 190.In another example, a portion of the back portion 170 may overlapportion(s) of the toe portion 140, the heel portion 150, the top portion180, and/or the sole portion 190. The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The golf club head 100 may be an iron-type golf club head (e.g., a1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a 6-iron, a 7-iron, an8-iron, a 9-iron, etc.) or a wedge-type golf club head (e.g., a pitchingwedge, a lob wedge, a sand wedge, an n-degree wedge such as 44 degrees(°), 48°, 52°, 56°, 60°, etc.). Although FIGS. 1-10 may depict aparticular type of club head, the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of clubheads (e.g., a driver-type club head, a fairway wood-type club head, ahybrid-type club head, a putter-type club head, etc.). The golf clubhead 100 may have a club head volume less than or equal to 300 cubiccentimeters (cm³ or cc). In one example, the golf club head 100 may havea club head volume greater than or equal to 20 cc and less than or equalto 90 cc. In another example, the golf club head 100 may have a clubhead volume greater than or equal to 100 cc and less than or equal to200 cc. Alternatively, the golf club head 100 may have a club headvolume greater than 300 cc. In one example, the golf club head 100 mayhave a club head volume of about 460 cc. In another example, the golfclub head 100 may have a club head volume greater than 500 cc. The clubhead volume of the golf club head 1900 may be determined by using theweighted water displacement method (i.e., Archimedes Principle). Forexample, procedures defined by golf standard organizations and/orgoverning bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA)and/or the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) may be usedfor measuring the club head volume of the golf club head 100. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

The toe portion 140 may include a portion of the body portion 110opposite of the heel portion 150. The heel portion 150 may include ahosel portion 155 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) with a grip(not shown) on one end and the golf club head 100 on the opposite end ofthe shaft to form a golf club. The front surface 164 of the face portion162 may include one or more score lines, slots, or grooves 168 extendingto and/or between the toe portion 140 and the heel portion 150. Whilethe figures may depict a particular number of grooves, the apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may include moreor less grooves. The face portion 162 may be used to impact a golf ball(not shown). The face portion 162 may be an integral portion of the bodyportion 110. Alternatively, the face portion 162 may be a separate pieceor an insert coupled to the body portion 110 via various manufacturingmethods and/or processes (e.g., a bonding process such as adhesive, awelding process such as laser welding, a brazing process, a solderingprocess, a fusing process, a mechanical locking or connecting method,any combination thereof, or other suitable types of manufacturingmethods and/or processes). The face portion 162 may be associated with aloft plane that defines the loft angle of the golf club head 100. Theloft angle may vary based on the type of golf club (e.g., a long iron, amiddle iron, a short iron, a wedge, etc.). In one example, the loftangle may be between five degrees and seventy-five degrees. In anotherexample, the loft angle may be between twenty degrees and sixty degrees.The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein arenot limited in this regard.

The back portion 170 may include a portion of the body portion 110opposite of the front portion 160. In one example, the back portion 170may be a portion of the body portion 110 behind the back surface 166 ofthe face portion 162. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the back portion170 may be a portion of the body portion 110 behind a plane 171 definedby the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. In another example, theplane 171 may be parallel to the loft plane of the face portion 162. Asmentioned above, for example, the face portion 162 may be a separatepiece or an insert coupled to the body portion 110. Accordingly, theback portion 170 may include remaining portion(s) of the body portion110 other than the face portion 162. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Further, the body portion 110 may include one or more ports, which maybe exterior ports and/or interior ports (e.g., located inside the bodyportion 110). The interior walls of the body portion 110 may include oneor more ports. In one example, the back portion 170 may include one ormore ports (e.g., inside an interior cavity, generally shown as 700 inFIG. 7). In another example, the body portion 110 may include one ormore ports along a periphery of the body portion 110. As illustrated inFIG. 14, for example, the body portion 110 may include one or more portson the back portion 170, generally shown as a first set of ports 1420(e.g., shown as ports 1421, 1422, 1423, and 1424) and a second set ofports 1430 (e.g., shown as ports 1431, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1435, 1436, and1437). In another example, one or more ports may be on a back wallportion 1410 of the back portion 170. One or more ports may beassociated with a port diameter, which may be defined as the largestdistance to and/or between opposing ends or boundaries of a port. Forexample, a port diameter for a rectangular port (e.g., a slot, slit, orelongated rectangular opening) may refer to a diagonal length of arectangle. In another example, a port diameter of an elliptical port mayrefer to the major axis of an ellipse. As shown in FIG. 14, for example,each port may have a circular shape with a port diameter equivalent to adiameter of a circle. In one example, the port diameter of the first setof ports 1420 and/or the second set of ports 1430 may be about 0.25 inch(6.35 millimeters). Any two adjacent ports of the first set of ports1420 may be separated by less than or equal to the port diameter. In asimilar manner, any two adjacent ports of the second set of ports 1430may be separated by less than or equal to the port diameter. Someadjacent ports may be separated by greater than the port diameter. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

The body portion 110 may include one or more mass portions, which may beintegral mass portion(s) or separate mass portion(s) that may be coupledto the body portion 110. In the illustrated example as shown in FIG. 2,the body portion 110 may include a first set of mass portions 120 (e.g.,shown as mass portions 121, 122, 123, and 124) and a second set of massportions 130 (e.g., shown as mass portions 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136,and 137). While the above example, may describe a particular number orportions of mass portions, a set of mass portions may include a singlemass portion or a plurality of mass portions. For example, the first setof mass portions 120 may be a single mass portion. In a similar manner,the second set of mass portions 130 may be a single mass portion.Further, the first set of mass portions or the second set of massportions 130 may be a portion of the physical structure of the bodyportion 110. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

The body portion 110 may be made of a first material whereas the firstset of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 maybe made of a second material. The first and second materials may besimilar or different materials. For example, the body portion 110 may bepartially or entirely made of a steel-based material (e.g., 17-4 PHstainless steel, Nitronic® 50 stainless steel, alloy steel 8620,maraging steel or other types of stainless steel), a titanium-basedmaterial, an aluminum-based material (e.g., a high-strength aluminumalloy or a composite aluminum alloy coated with a high-strength alloy),any combination thereof, non-metallic materials, composite materials,and/or other suitable types of materials. In one example, one or moremass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the secondset of mass portions 130 may be partially or entirely made of ahigh-density material such as a tungsten-based material or othersuitable types of materials. In another example, one more mass portionsof the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of massportions 130 may be partially or entirely made of other suitable metalmaterial such as a stainless steel-based material, a titanium-basedmaterial, an aluminum-based material, any combination thereof, and/orother suitable types of materials. Further, one or more mass portions ofthe first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of massportions 130 may be made of different types of materials (e.g., metalcore and polymer sleeve surrounding the metal core). The body portion110, the first set of mass portions 120, and/or the second set of massportions 130 may be partially or entirely made of similar or differentnon-metal materials (e.g., composite, plastic, polymer, etc.). Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in thisregard.

The body portion (e.g., one generally shown as 110 in FIG. 1) and/or anyother portion of a golf club head (e.g., one generally shown as 100 inFIG. 1) according to any of the examples described herein may beconstructed from stainless steel material to resist corrosion (e.g.,corrosion resistant). In one example, all or one or more portions of thebody portion 110 and/or any other portion of the golf club head 100 maybe constructed by a forging process. Accordingly, stainless steelmaterial from which all or portions of the body portion and/or any otherportion of the golf club head are constructed may be a forgeablestainless steel material. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture are not limited in this regard.

The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein mayuse stainless steel material with various ranges of material properties,such as density, tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, elongation,etc. (e.g., different type, grade, alloy, etc. of stainless steelmaterial). In one example, the density of stainless steel material maybe between and including 7.0 g/cm³ and 8.3 g/cm³. In another example,the density of stainless steel material may be between and including 7.6g/cm³ and 8.1 g/cm³. In yet another example, the density of stainlesssteel material may be between and including 7.2 g/cm³ and 7.8 g/cm³. Inyet another example, the density of stainless steel material may bebetween and including 7.3 g/cm³ and 7.7 g/cm³. In yet another example,the density of stainless steel material may be between and including 7.1g/cm³ and 7.6 g/cm³. In yet another example, the density of stainlesssteel material may be between and including 7.4 g/cm³ and 8.3 g/cm³. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

In one example, all or at least one or more portions of the body portion110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having a tensilestrength between and including 600 MPa and 800 MPa (10⁶ Pascal=10⁶N/m²). In another example, all or at least one or more portions of thebody portion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material havinga tensile strength between and including 620 MPa and 780 MPa. In yetanother example, the all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having atensile strength between and including 660 MPa and 720 MPa. In yetanother example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having atensile strength between and including 680 MPa and 790 MPa. In yetanother example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having atensile strength between and including 640 MPa and 760 MPa. In yetanother example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having atensile strength between and including 670 MPa and 770 MPa. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

In one example, all or at least one or more portions of the body portion110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having a yieldstrength between and including 500 MPa and 700 MPa. In another example,all or at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a yield strengthbetween and including 520 MPa and 680 MPa. In yet another example, allor at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a yield strengthbetween and including 560 MPa and 620 MPa. In yet another example, allor at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a yield strengthbetween and including 580 MPa and 690 MPa. In yet another example, allor at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a yield strengthbetween and including 540 MPa and 660 MPa. In yet another example, allor at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a yield strengthbetween and including 570 MPa and 670 MPa. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, all or at least one or more portions of the body portion110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having a hardnessbetween and including 10 and 40 HRC (Rockwell Hardness in the C scale).In another example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having ahardness between and including 15 and 35 HRC. In yet another example,all or at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a hardness between andincluding 22 and 28 HRC. In yet another example, all or at least one ormore portions of the body portion 110 may be constructed with stainlesssteel material having a hardness between and including 12 and 38 HRC. Inyet another example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having ahardness between and including 17 and 33 HRC. In yet another example,all or at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having a hardness between andincluding 11 and 31 HRC. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, all or at least one or more portions of the body portion110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having anelongation between and including 5% and 40%. In another example, all orat least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may be constructedwith stainless steel material having an elongation between and including10% and 32%. In yet another example, all or at least one or moreportions of the body portion 110 may be constructed with stainless steelmaterial having an elongation between and including 13% and 28%. In yetanother example, all or at least one or more portions of the bodyportion 110 may be constructed with stainless steel material having anelongation between and including 18% and 37%. In yet another example,all or at least one or more portions of the body portion 110 may beconstructed with stainless steel material having an elongation betweenand including 14% and 33%. In yet another example, all or at least oneor more portions of the body portion 110 may be constructed withstainless steel material having an elongation between and including 7%and 36%. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

One or more ports may be configured to receive a mass portion having asimilar shape as the port. For example, a rectangular port may receive arectangular mass portion. In another example, an elliptical port mayreceive an elliptical mass portion. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, forexample, the first and second sets of ports 1420 and 1430, respectively,may be cylindrical ports configured to receive one or more cylindricalmass portions. In particular, one or more mass portions of the first set120 (e.g., generally shown as mass portions 121, 122, 123, and 124) maybe disposed in a port located at or proximate to the toe portion 140and/or the top portion 180. For example, the mass portion 121 may bepartially or entirely disposed in the port 1421. One or more massportions of the second set 130 (e.g., generally shown as mass portions131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be disposed in a port locatedat or proximate to the toe portion 140 and/or the sole portion 190. Forexample, the mass portion 135 may be partially or entirely disposed inthe port 1435. The first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second setof mass portions 130 may be coupled to the body portion 110 with variousmanufacturing methods and/or processes (e.g., a bonding process, awelding process, a brazing process, a mechanical locking method, anycombination thereof, or other suitable manufacturing methods and/orprocesses).

Alternatively, the golf club head 100 may not include (i) the first setof mass portions 120, (ii) the second set of mass portions 130, or (iii)both the first and second sets of mass portions 120 and 130,respectively. In particular, the body portion 110 may not include portsat or proximate to the top portion 180 and/or the sole portion 190. Forexample, the mass of the first set of mass portions 120 (e.g., 3 grams)and/or the mass of the second set of mass portions 130 (e.g., 16.8grams) may be integral part(s) of the body portion 110 instead ofseparate mass portion(s). In one example, the body portion 110 mayinclude interior and/or exterior integral mass portions at or proximateto the toe portion 140 and/or at or proximate to the heel portion 150.In another example, a portion of the body portion 110 may includeinterior and/or exterior integral mass portions extending to and/orbetween the toe portion 140 and the heel portion 150. The first and/orsecond set of mass portions 120 and 130, respectively, may affect themass, the center of gravity (CG), the moment of inertia (MOI), or otherphysical properties of the golf club head 100. The apparatus, methods,and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in thisregard.

One or more mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/orthe second set of mass portions 130 may have similar or differentphysical properties (e.g., color, marking, shape, size, density, mass,volume, external surface texture, materials of construction, etc.).Accordingly, the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set ofmass portions 130 may contribute to the ornamental design of the golfclub head 100. In the illustrated example as shown in FIG. 11, one ormore mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or thesecond set of mass portions 130 may have a cylindrical shape (e.g., acircular cross section). Alternatively, one or more mass portions of thefirst set 120 may have a first shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) whereasone or more mass portions of the second set 130 may have a second shape(e.g., a cubical shape). In another example, the first set of massportions 120 may include two or more mass portions with different shapes(e.g., the mass portion 121 may be a first shape whereas the massportion 122 may be a second shape different from the first shape).Likewise, the second set of mass portions 130 may also include two ormore mass portions with different shapes (e.g., the mass portion 131 maybe a first shape whereas the mass portion 132 may be a second shapedifferent from the first shape). In another example, one or more massportions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set ofmass portions 130 may have a different color(s), marking(s), shape(s),density or densities, mass(es), volume(s), material(s) of construction,external surface texture(s), and/or any other physical property ascompared to one or more mass portions of the first set of mass portions120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130. The apparatus, methods,and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in thisregard.

Although the above examples may describe mass portions having aparticular shape, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein may include mass portions of other suitable shapes(e.g., a portion of or a whole sphere, cube, cone, cylinder, pyramid,cuboidal, prism, frustum, rectangular, elliptical, or other suitablegeometric shape). While the above examples and figures may depictmultiple mass portions as a set of mass portions, two or more massportions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set ofmass portions 130 may be a single piece of mass portion. In one example,the first set of mass portions 120 may be a single piece of mass portioninstead of a series of four separate mass portions. In another example,the second set of mass portions 130 may be a single piece of massportion instead of a series of seven separate mass portions. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, for example, the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may includethreads, generally shown as 1210 and 1310, respectively, to engage withcorrespondingly configured threads in the ports to secure in the portsof the back portion 170 (e.g., generally shown as 1420 and 1430 in FIG.14). Accordingly, one or more mass portions as described herein may beshaped similar to and function as a screw or threaded fastener forengaging threads in a port. For example, one or more mass portions ofthe first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of massportions 130 may be a screw. One or more mass portions of the first setof mass portions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may notbe readily removable from the body portion 110 with or without a tool.Alternatively, one or more mass portions of the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may be readilyremovable (e.g., with a tool) so that a relatively heavier or lightermass portion may replace one or more mass portions of the first andsecond sets of mass portions 120 and 130, respectively. In anotherexample, one or more mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may be secured in the portsof the back portion 170 with epoxy or adhesive so that the one or moremass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the secondset of mass portions 130 may not be readily removable. In yet anotherexample, one or more mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may be secured in the portsof the back portion 170 with both epoxy and threads so that the one moremass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the secondset of mass portions 130 may not be readily removable. In yet anotherexample, one or more mass portions described herein may be press fit ina port. In yet another example, one or more mass portions describedherein may be formed inside a port by injection molding. For example, aliquid metallic material (i.e., molten metal) or a plastic material(e.g. rubber, foam, or any polymer material) may be injected into aport. After the liquid material is cooled and/or cured inside the port,the resulting solid material (e.g., a metal material, a plasticmaterial, or a combination thereof), may be a mass portion. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

As mentioned above, one or more mass portions of the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may be similarin some physical properties but different in other physical properties.For example, a mass portion may be made from an aluminum-based materialor an aluminum alloy whereas another mass portion may be made from atungsten-based material or a tungsten alloy. In another example, a massportion may be made from a polymer material whereas another mass portionmay be made from a steel-based material. In yet another example, asillustrated in FIGS. 11-13, one or more mass portions of the first setof mass portions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may havea diameter 1110 of about 0.25 inch (6.35 millimeters) but one or moremass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the secondset of mass portions 130 may be different in height. In particular, oneor more mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 may beassociated with a first height 1220 (FIG. 12), and one or more massportions of the second set of mass portions 130 may be associated with asecond height 1320 (FIG. 13). The first height 1220 may be relativelyshorter than the second height 1320. In one example, the first height1220 may be about 0.125 inch (3.175 millimeters) whereas the secondheight 1320 may be about 0.3 inch (7.62 millimeters). In anotherexample, the first height 1220 may be about 0.16 inch (4.064millimeters) whereas the second height 1320 may be about 0.4 inch (10.16millimeters). Alternatively, the first height 1220 may be equal to orgreater than the second height 1320. Although the above examples maydescribe particular dimensions, one or more mass portions describedherein may have different dimensions. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring to FIG. 10, for example, the golf club head 100 may beassociated with a ground plane 1010, a horizontal midplane 1020, and atop plane 1030. In particular, the ground plane 1010 may be a tangentialplane to the sole portion 190 of the golf club head 100 when the golfclub head 100 is at an address position (e.g., the golf club head 100 isaligned to strike a golf ball). A top plane 1030 may be a tangentialplane to the top portion of the 180 of the golf club head 100 when thegolf club head 100 is at the address position. The ground and top planes1010 and 1030, respectively, may be substantially parallel to eachother. The horizontal midplane 1020 may be vertically halfway betweenthe ground and top planes 1010 and 1030, respectively.

As described herein, the golf club head 100 may be an iron-type golfclub head (e.g., a 1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a6-iron, a 7-iron, an 8-iron, a 9-iron, etc.) or a wedge-type golf clubhead (e.g., a pitching wedge, a lob wedge, a sand wedge, an n-degreewedge such as 44 degrees (°), 48°, 52°, 56°, 60°, etc.). The bodyportion 110 of the golf club head 100 or any of the golf club headsdescribed herein may include a visual indicator to indicate a particulartype of iron-type golf club head or wedge-type golf club head. Inparticular, the visual indicator 111 may be a number located on aperiphery of the body portion 110. For example, the visual indicator 111may be located on the periphery of the body portion 110 at or proximateto the sole portion 190 and/or the toe portion 140. The visual indicator111 may avoid or substantially avoid contact with the ground plane 1010at an address position and/or the ground when the golf club head 100strikes a golf ball. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

The body portion 110 may include any number of ports (e.g., no ports,one port, two ports, etc.) above the horizontal midplane 1020 and/orbelow the horizontal midplane 1020. In one example, the body portion 110may include a greater number of ports below the horizontal midplane 1020than above the horizontal midplane 1020. In the illustrated example asshown in FIG. 14, the body portion 110 may include four ports (e.g.,generally shown as ports 1421, 1422, 1423, and 1424) above thehorizontal midplane 1020 and seven ports (e.g., generally shown as ports1431, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1435, 1436, and 1437) below the horizontalmidplane 1020. In another example (not shown), the body portion 110 mayinclude two ports above the horizontal midplane 1020 and five portsbelow the horizontal midplane 1020. In yet another example (not shown),the body portion 110 may not have any ports above the horizontalmidplane 1020 but have one or more ports below the horizontal midplane1020. Accordingly, the body portion 110 may have more ports below thehorizontal midplane 1020 than above the horizontal midplane 1020.Further, the body portion 110 may include a port at or proximate to thehorizontal midplane 1020 with a portion of the port above the horizontalmidplane 1020 and a portion of the port below the horizontal midplane1020. Accordingly, the port may be (i) above the horizontal midplane1020, (ii) below the horizontal midplane 1020, or (iii) both above andbelow the horizontal midplane 1020. The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

To provide optimal perimeter weighting for the golf club head 100, thefirst set of mass portions 120 (e.g., generally shown as mass portions121, 122, 123, and 124) may be configured to counter-balance the mass ofthe hosel 155. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the first set of massportions 120 (e.g., generally shown as mass portions 121, 122, 123 and124) may be located at or near the periphery of the body portion 110 andextend to and/or between the top portion 180 and the toe portion 140. Inother words, the first set of mass portions 120 may be located on thegolf club head 100 at a generally opposite location relative to thehosel 155. In another example, at least a portion of the first set ofmass portions 120 may extend at or near the periphery of the bodyportion 110 and extend along a portion of the top portion 180. In yetanother example, at least a portion of the first set of mass portions120 may extend at or near the periphery of the body portion 110 andextend along a portion of the toe portion 140. Further, the first set ofmass portions 120 may be above the horizontal midplane 1020 of the golfclub head 100. For example, the first set of mass portions 120 may be ator near the horizontal midplane 1020. In another example, a portion ofthe first set of mass portions 120 may be at or above the horizontalmidplane 1020 and another portion of the first set of mass portions 120may be at or below the horizontal midplane 1020. Accordingly, a set ofmass portions, which may be a single mass portion, may have portionsabove the horizontal midplane 1020 and below the horizontal midplane1020. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

At least a portion of the first set of mass portions 120 may be at ornear the toe portion 140 to increase the MOI of the golf club head 100about a vertical axis of the golf club head 100 that extends through theCG of the golf club head 100. Accordingly, the first set of massportions 120 may be at or near the periphery of the body portion 110 andextend through the top portion 180 and/or the toe portion 140 tocounter-balance the mass of the hosel 155 and/or increase the MOI of thegolf club head 100. The locations of the first set of mass portions 120(i.e., the locations of the first set of ports 1420) and the physicalproperties and materials of construction of the first set of massportions 120 may be determined to optimally affect the mass, massdistribution, CG, MOI, structural integrity and/or or other staticand/or dynamic characteristics of the golf club head 100. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The second set of mass portions 130 (e.g., generally shown as massportions 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be configured toplace the CG of the golf club head 100 at an optimal location andoptimize the MOI of the golf club head 100. Referring to FIG. 10, all ora substantial portion of the second set of mass portions 130 may begenerally at or near the sole portion 190. For example, the second setof mass portions 130 (e.g., generally shown as mass portions 131, 132,133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be at or near the periphery of the bodyportion 110 and extend from the sole portion 190 to the toe portion 140.As shown in the example of FIG. 10, the mass portions 131, 132, 133, and134 may be located at or near the periphery of the body portion 110 andextend along the sole portion 190 to lower the CG of the golf club head100. The mass portions 135, 136 and 137 may be located at or near theperiphery of the body portion 110 and extend to and/or between the soleportion 190 and the toe portion 140 to lower the CG and increase the MOIof the golf club head 100. For example, the MOI of the golf club head100 about a vertical axis extending through the CG may increase. Tolower the CG of the golf club head 100, all or a portion of the secondset of mass portions 130 may be located closer to the sole portion 190than to the horizontal midplane 1020. For example, the mass portions131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 136 may be closer to the sole portion 190than to the horizontal midplane 1020. The locations of the second set ofmass portions 130 (i.e., the locations of the second set of ports 1430)and the physical properties and materials of construction of the secondset of mass portions 130 may be determined to optimally affect the mass,mass distribution, CG, MOI, structural integrity and/or or other staticand/or dynamic characteristics of the golf club head 100. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Turning to FIGS. 7-9, for example, one or more mass portions of thefirst set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions130 may be located away from the back surface 166 of the face portion162 (e.g., not directly coupled to each other). That is, one or moremass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the secondset of mass portions 130 and the back surface 166 may be partially orentirely separated by an interior cavity 700 of the body portion 110. Asshown in FIG. 14, for example, one or more ports of the first and secondsets of ports 1420 and 1430 may include an opening (e.g., generallyshown as 720 and 730) and a port wall (e.g., generally shown as 725 and735). The port walls 725 and 735 may be integral portions of the backwall portion 1410 (e.g., a section of the back wall portion 1410) or thebody portion 110 depending on the location of each port. The opening 720may be configured to receive a mass portion such as mass portion 121.The opening 730 may be configured to receive a mass portion such as massportion 135. The opening 720 may be located at one end of the port 1421,and the port wall 725 may be located or proximate to at an opposite endof the port 1421. In a similar manner, the opening 730 may be located atone end of the port 1435, and the port wall 735 may be located at orproximate to an opposite end of the port 1435. The port walls 725 and735 may be separated from the face portion 162 (e.g., separated by theinterior cavity 700). The port wall 725 may have a distance 726 from theback surface 166 of the face portion 162 as shown in FIG. 9. The portwall 735 may have a distance 736 from the back surface 166 of the faceportion 162. The distances 726 and 736 may be determined to optimize thelocation of the CG of the golf club head 100 when the first and secondsets of ports 1420 and 1430, respectively, receive mass portions asdescribed herein. According to one example, the distance 736 may begreater than the distance 726 so that the CG of the golf club head 100may be moved toward the back portion 170. As a result, a width 740 of aportion of the interior cavity 700 below the horizontal midplane 1020may be greater than a width 742 of the interior cavity 700 above thehorizontal midplane 1020. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

As described herein, the CG of the golf club head 100 may be relativelyfarther back away from the face portion 162 and relatively lower towardsa ground plane (e.g., one shown as 1010 in FIG. 10) with all or asubstantial portion of the second set of mass portions 130 being at orcloser to the sole portion 190 than to the horizontal midplane 1020 andthe first and second sets of mass portions 120 and 130, respectivelybeing away from the back surface 166 than if the second set of massportions 130 were directly coupled to the back surface 166. The bodyportion 110 may include any number of mass portions (e.g., no massportions, one mass portion, two mass portions, etc.) and/or anyconfiguration of mass portions (e.g., mass portion(s) integral with thebody portion 110) above the horizontal midplane 1020 and/or below thehorizontal midplane 1020. The locations of the first and second sets ofports 1420 and 1430 and/or the locations (e.g., internal massportion(s), external mass portion(s), mass portion(s) integral with thebody portion 110, etc.), physical properties and materials ofconstruction of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second setof mass portions 130 may be determined to optimally affect the mass,mass distribution, CG, MOI characteristics, structural integrity and/oror other static and/or dynamic characteristics of the golf club head100. Different from other golf club head designs, the interior cavity700 of the body portion 110 and the location of the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portion 130 along theperiphery of the golf club head 100 may result in a golf ball travelingaway from the face portion 162 at a relatively higher ball launch angleand a relatively lower spin rate. As a result, the golf ball may travelfarther (i.e., greater total distance, which includes carry and rolldistances). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

While the figures may depict ports with a particular cross-sectionshape, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein may include ports with other suitable cross-section shapes. Inone example, the ports of the first and/or second sets of ports 1420 and1430 may have U-like cross-section shape. In another example, the portsof the first and/or second set of ports 1420 and 1430 may have V-likecross-section shape. One or more of the ports associated with the firstset of mass portions 120 may have a different cross-section shape thanone or more ports associated with the second set of mass portions 130.For example, the port 1421 may have a U-like cross-section shape whereasthe port 1435 may have a V-like cross-section shape. Further, two ormore ports associated with the first set of mass portions 120 may havedifferent cross-section shapes. In a similar manner, two or more portsassociated with the second set of mass portions 130 may have differentcross-section shapes. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The first and second sets of mass portions 120 and 130, respectively,may be similar in mass (e.g., all of the mass portions of the first andsecond sets 120 and 130, respectively, weigh about the same).Alternatively, the first and second sets of mass portions 120 and 130,respectively, may be different in mass individually or as an entire set.In particular, one or more mass portions of the first set of massportions 120 (e.g., generally shown as 121, 122, 123, and 124) may haverelatively less mass than one or more portions of the second set of massportions 130 (e.g., generally shown as 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and137). For example, the second set of mass portions 130 may account formore than 50% of the total mass from mass portions of the golf club head100. As a result, the golf club head 100 may be configured to have atleast 50% of the total mass from mass portions disposed below thehorizontal midplane 1020. Two or more mass portions in the same set maybe different in mass. In one example, the mass portion 121 of the firstset 120 may have a relatively lower mass than the mass portion 122 ofthe first set 120. In another example, the mass portion 131 of thesecond set 130 may have a relatively lower mass than the mass portion135 of the second set 130. Accordingly, more mass may be distributedaway from the CG of the golf club head 100 to increase the MOI about thevertical axis through the CG. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, the golf club head 100 may have a mass in the range ofabout 220 grams to about 330 grams based on the type of golf club (e.g.,a 4-iron versus a lob wedge). The body portion 110 may have a mass inthe range of about 200 grams to about 310 grams with the first set ofmass portions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 having amass of about 20 grams (e.g., a total mass from mass portions). One ormore mass portions of the first set of mass portions 120 and/or thesecond set of mass portions 130 may have a mass greater than or equal toabout 0.1 gram and less than or equal to about 20 grams. In one example,one or more mass portions of the first set 120 may have a mass of about0.75 gram whereas one or more mass portions of the second set 130 mayhave a mass of about 2.4 grams. The sum of the mass of the first set ofmass portions 120 or the sum of the mass of the second set of massportions 130 may be greater than or equal to about 0.1 grams and lessthan or equal to about 20 grams. In one example, the sum of the mass ofthe first set of mass portions 120 may be about 3 grams whereas the sumof the mass of the first set of mass portions 130 may be about 16.8grams. The total mass of the second set of mass portions 130 may weighmore than five times as much as the total mass of the first set of massportions 120 (e.g., a total mass of the second set of mass portions 130of about 16.8 grams versus a total mass of the first set of massportions 120 of about 3 grams). The golf club head 100 may have a totalmass of 19.8 grams from the first and second sets of mass portions 120and 130, respectively (e.g., sum of 3 grams from the first set of massportions 120 and 16.8 grams from the second set of mass portions 130).Accordingly, in one example, the first set of mass portions 120 mayaccount for about 15% of the total mass from mass portions of the golfclub head 100 whereas the second set of mass portions 130 may be accountfor about 85% of the total mass from mass portions of the golf club head100. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

By coupling the first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set ofmass portions 130, respectively, to the body portion 110 (e.g., securingthe first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second set of massportions 130 in the ports on the back portion 170), the location of theCG and the MOI) of the golf club head 100 may be optimized. Inparticular, as described herein, the first set of mass portions 120 maylower the location of the CG towards the sole portion 190 and furtherback away from the face portion 162. Further, the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may increase theMOI as measured about a vertical axis extending through the CG (e.g.,perpendicular to the ground plane 1010). The MOI may also be higher asmeasured about a horizontal axis extending through the CG (e.g.,extending towards the toe and heel portions 150 and 160, respectively,of the golf club head 100). As a result, the club head 100 may provide arelatively higher launch angle and a relatively lower spin rate than agolf club head without the first and/or second sets of mass portions 120and 130, respectively. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Although the figures may depict the mass portions as separate andindividual parts that may be visible from an exterior of the golf clubhead 100, the two or more mass portions of the first set of massportions 120 and/or the second set of mass portions 130 may be a singlepiece of mass portion that may be an exterior mass portion or aninterior mass portion (i.e., not visible from an exterior of the golfclub head 100). In one example, all of the mass portions of the firstset 120 (e.g., generally shown as 121, 122, 123, and 124) may becombined into a single piece of mass portion (e.g., a first massportion). In a similar manner, all of the mass portions of the secondset 130 (e.g., generally shown as 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137)may be combined into a single piece of mass portion as well (e.g., asecond mass portion). In this example, the golf club head 100 may haveonly two mass portions. In another example (not shown), the body portion110 may not include the first set of mass portions 120, but include thesecond set of mass portions 130 in the form of a single piece ofinternal mass portion that may be farther from the heel portion 150 thanthe toe portion 140. In yet another example (not shown), the bodyportion 110 may not include the first set of mass portions 120, butinclude the second set of mass portions 130 with a first internal massportion farther from the heel portion 150 than the toe portion 140 and asecond internal mass portion farther from the toe portion 140 than theheel portion 150. The first internal mass portion and the secondinternal mass portion may be (i) integral parts of the body portion 110or (ii) separate from the body portion 110 and coupled to the bodyportion 110. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

While the figures may depict a particular number of mass portions, theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein mayinclude more or less number of mass portions. In one example, the firstset of mass portions 120 may include two separate mass portions insteadof three separate mass portions as shown in the figures. In anotherexample, the second set of mass portions 130 may include five separatemass portions instead of seven separate mass portions as shown in thefigures. Alternatively as mentioned above, the apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein may not include any separatemass portions (e.g., the body portion 110 may be manufactured to includethe mass of the separate mass portions as integral part(s) of the bodyportion 110). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, for example, the body portion 110 may be ahollow body including the interior cavity 700 extending between thefront portion 160 and the back portion 170. Further, the interior cavity700 may extend between the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190. Theinterior cavity 700 may be associated with a cavity height 750 (H_(C)),and the body portion 110 may be associated with a body height 850(H_(B)). While the cavity height 750 and the body height 850 may varybetween the toe and heel portions 140 and 150, the cavity height 750 maybe at least 50% of a body height 850 (H_(C)>0.5*H_(B)). For example, thecavity height 750 may vary between 70%-85% of the body height 850. Withthe cavity height 750 of the interior cavity 700 being greater than 50%of the body height 850, the golf club head 100 may produce relativelymore consistent feel, sound, and/or result when the golf club head 100strikes a golf ball via the face portion 162 than a golf club head witha cavity height of less than 50% of the body height. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

In one example, the interior cavity 700 may be unfilled (i.e., emptyspace). The body portion 110 with the interior cavity 700 may weighabout 100 grams less than the body portion 110 without the interiorcavity 700. Alternatively, the interior cavity 700 may be partially orentirely filled with a cavity filling or filler material (i.e., a cavityfilling portion), which may include one or more similar or differenttypes of materials. In one example, the filler material may include anelastic polymer or an elastomer material (e.g., a viscoelastic urethanepolymer material such as Sorbothane® material manufactured bySorbothane, Inc., Kent, Ohio), a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE),a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), other polymer material(s),bonding material(s) (e.g., adhesive), and/or other suitable types ofmaterials that may absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise.For example, at least 50% of the interior cavity 700 may be filled witha TPE material to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noisewhen the golf club head 100 strikes a golf ball via the face portion162. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

In another example, the filler material may be a polymer material suchas an ethylene copolymer material that may absorb shock, isolatevibration, and/or dampen noise when the golf club head 100 strikes agolf ball via the face portion 162. In particular, at least 50% of theinterior cavity 700 may be filled with a high density ethylene copolymerionomer, a fatty acid modified ethylene copolymer ionomer, a highlyamorphous ethylene copolymer ionomer, an ionomer of ethylene acidacrylate terpolymer, an ethylene copolymer comprising a magnesiumionomer, an injection moldable ethylene copolymer that may be used inconventional injection molding equipment to create various shapes, anethylene copolymer that can be used in conventional extrusion equipmentto create various shapes, an ethylene copolymer having high compressionand low resilience similar to thermoset polybutadiene rubbers, and/or ablend of highly neutralized polymer compositions, highly neutralizedacid polymers or highly neutralized acid polymer compositions, andfillers. For example, the ethylene copolymer may include any of theethylene copolymers associated with DuPont™ High-Performance Resin (HPF)family of materials (e.g., DuPont™ HPF AD1172, DuPont™ HPF AD1035,DuPont® HPF 1000 and DuPont™ HPF 2000), which are manufactured by E.I.du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del. The DuPont™ HPFfamily of ethylene copolymers are injection moldable and may be usedwith conventional injection molding equipment and molds, provide lowcompression, and provide high resilience, i.e., relatively highcoefficient of restitution (COR). The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

For example, the filler material may have a density of less than orequal to 1.5 g/cm³. The filler material may have a compressiondeformation value ranging from about 0.0787 inch (2 mm) to about 0.1968inch (5 mm). The filler material may have a surface Shore D hardnessranging from 40 to 60. As mentioned above, the filler material may beassociated with a relatively high coefficient of restitution (COR). Thefiller material may be associated with a first COR (COR₁) and the faceportion 2462 may be associated with a second COR (COR₂), which may besimilar or different from the first COR. The first and second CORs maybe associated with a COR ratio (e.g., COR₁₂ ratio=COR₁/COR₂ or COR₂₁ratio=COR₂/COR₁). In one example, the COR ratio may be less than two(2). In another example, the COR ratio may be in a range from about 0.5to about 1.5. In yet another example, the COR ratio may be in a rangefrom about 0.8 to about 1.2. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The golf club head 100 may be associated with a third COR (COR₃), whichmay be similar or different from the first COR and/or the second COR. Asmentioned above, the filler material may be associated with the firstCOR. The first and third CORs may be associated with a COR ratio (e.g.,COR₁₃ ratio=COR₁/COR₃ or COR₃₁ ratio=COR₃/COR₁). In one example, the CORratio may be less than two (2). In another example, the COR ratio may bein a range from about 0.5 to about 1.5. In yet another example, the CORratio may be in a range from about 0.8 to about 1.2. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The CORs of the filler material, the face portion 162, and/or the golfclub head 100 (e.g., the first COR (COR₁), the second COR (COR₂), and/orthe third COR (COR₃), respectively) may be measured by methods similarto methods that measure the COR of a golf ball and/or a golf club headas defined by one or more golf standard organizations and/or governingbodies (e.g., United States Golf Association (USGA)). In one example, anair cannon device may launch or eject an approximately 1.55 inch (38.1mm) spherical sample of the filler material at an initial velocitytoward a steel plate positioned at about 4 feet (1.2 meters) away fromthe air cannon device. The sample may vary in size, shape or any otherconfiguration. A speed monitoring device may be located at a distance ina range from 2 feet (0.6 meters) to 3 feet (0.9 meters) from the aircannon device. The speed monitoring device may measure a reboundvelocity of the sample of the filler material after the sample of thefiller material strikes the steel plate. In one example, the reboundvelocity may be greater than or equal to 2 meters per second (m/s). Inanother example, the rebound velocity may be greater than or equal to2.5 m/s. In yet another example, the rebound velocity may be greaterthan or equal to 3 m/s. The COR may be the rebound velocity divided bythe initial velocity. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, an air cannon device may launch or eject a testing golfball (e.g., as defined by the USGA) at an initial velocity toward aplate-shaped sample of the filler material with a rigid backing (e.g., ametal plate) positioned at about 4 feet (1.2 meters) away from the aircannon device. The plate-shaped sample of the filler material may havesufficient thickness depending on the elasticity of the filler materialso that the striking golf ball compresses the filler material within theelastic range of the filler material. The thickness of the plate-shapedsample of the filler material may vary based on the elasticity of thefiller material. For example, the plate-shaped sample of the fillermaterial may have a thickness ranging from about 1 inch to about 5inches. A speed monitoring device may be located at a distance in arange from 2 feet (0.6 meters) to 3 feet (0.9 meters) from the aircannon device. The speed monitoring device may measure a reboundvelocity of the golf ball after the golf ball strikes the plate-shapedsample of the filler material. The method of measuring COR of the fillermaterial may be repeated with multiple samples of the same brand andmodel of golf balls (i.e., identical or substantially identical golfballs). In one example, the rebound velocity may be greater than orequal to 2 meters per second (m/s). In another example, the reboundvelocity may be greater than or equal to 2.5 m/s. In yet anotherexample, the rebound velocity may be greater than or equal to 3 m/s. TheCOR may be the rebound velocity divided by the initial velocity. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

In another example, a drop test procedure may be used to determine theCOR of the filler material. An approximately 1.68 inch (42.6 mm)spherical sample of the filler material may be dropped onto ahorizontally positioned steel plate from a certain drop distance. Abounce distance, which is the distance by which the spherical sample ofthe filler material bounces from the steel plate may be measured. TheCOR may be the bounce distance divided by the drop distance. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

In yet another example, a drop test procedure may be used to determinethe COR of the filler material. A USGA testing golf ball may be droppedonto a horizontally positioned plate-shaped sample of the fillermaterial with a rigid backing (e.g., a metal plate) from a certain dropdistance. The plate-shaped sample of the filler material may havesufficient thickness depending on the elasticity of the filler materialso that the dropped golf ball compresses the filler material within theelastic range of the filler material. In one example, the plate-shapedsample of the filler material may have a thickness ranging from about 1inch to about 5 inches. A bounce distance, which may be the distance bywhich the golf ball bounces from the plate-shaped filler material isthen measured. The method of measuring COR of the filler material may berepeated with multiple samples of the same brand and model of golf balls(i.e., identical or substantially identical golf balls). The COR may bethe bounce distance divided by the drop distance. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

In one example, the filler material may have a COR value in a range fromapproximately 0.50 to approximately 0.95 when measured with an initialvelocity in a range from 100 ft/s (30.48 m/s) to 250 ft/s (76.2 m/s). Inanother example, the filler material may have a COR value in a rangefrom approximately 0.65 to approximately 0.85 when measured with aninitial velocity in a range from 100 ft/s (30.48 m/s) to 150 ft/s (45.72m/s). In another example, the filler material may have a COR value in arange from approximately 0.75 to approximately 0.8 when measured with aninitial velocity in a range 100 ft/s (30.48 m/s) to 150 ft/s (45.72m/s). In another example, the filler material may have a COR value in arange from approximately 0.55 to approximately 0.90 when measured withan initial velocity in a range from 100 ft/s (30.48 m/s) and 250 ft/s(76.2 m/s). In another example, the filler material may have a COR valuein a range from approximately 0.75 to approximately 0.85 when measuredwith an initial velocity in a range 110 ft/s (33.53 m/s) to 200 ft/s(60.96 m/s). In yet another example, the filler material may have a CORvalue in a range from approximately 0.8 to approximately 0.9 whenmeasured with an initial velocity of about 125 ft/s (38.1 m/s). Further,the filler material may have a COR value greater than or equal to 0.8 atan initial velocity of about 143 ft/s (43.6 m/s). While a particularexample may be described above, other methods may be used to measure theCORs of the filler material, the face portion 162, and/or the golf clubhead 100. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

When the face portion 162 of the golf club head 100 strikes a golf ball,the face portion 162 and the filler material may deform and/or compress.The kinetic energy of the impact may be transferred to the face portion162 and/or the filler material. For example, some of the kinetic energymay be transformed into heat by the filler material or work done indeforming and/or compressing the filler material. Further, some of thekinetic energy may be transferred back to the golf ball to launch thegolf ball at a certain velocity. A filler material with a relativelyhigher COR may transfer relatively more kinetic energy to the golf balland dissipate relatively less kinetic energy. Accordingly, a fillermaterial with a relatively high COR may generate relatively higher golfball speeds because a relatively greater part of the kinetic energy ofthe impact may be transferred back to the golf ball to launch the golfball from the golf club head 100.

The filler material may include a bonding portion. In one example, thebonding portion may be one or more bonding agents including thermosetpolymers having bonding properties (e.g., one or more adhesive or epoxymaterials). For example, the bonding agent may assist in bonding oradhering the filler material to at least the back surface 166 of theface portion 162. The bonding agent may also absorb shock, isolatevibration, and/or dampen noise when the golf club head 100 strikes agolf ball via the face portion 162. Further, the bonding agent may be anepoxy material that may be flexible or slightly flexible when cured. Inone example, the filler material may include any of the 3M™ Scotch-Weld™DP100 family of epoxy adhesives (e.g., 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy AdhesivesDP100, DP100 Plus, DP100NS and DP100FR), which are manufactured by 3Mcorporation of St. Paul, Minn. In another example, the filler materialmay include 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ DP100 Plus Clear adhesive. In yet anotherexample, the filler material may include low-viscosity, organic,solvent-based solutions and/or dispersions of polymers and otherreactive chemicals such as MEGUM™, ROBOND™, and/or THIXON™ materialsmanufactured by the Dow Chemical Company, Auburn Hills, Mich. In yetanother example, the filler material may be LOCTITE® materialsmanufactured by Henkel Corporation, Rocky Hill, Conn. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Further, the filler material may include a combination of one or morebonding agents such as any of the bonding agents described herein andone or more polymer materials such as any of the polymer materialsdescribed herein. In one example, the filler material may include one ormore bonding agents that may be used to bond the polymer material to theback surface 166 of the face portion 162. The one or more bonding agentsmay be applied to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. Thefiller material may further include one or more polymer materials maypartially or entirely fill the remaining portions of the interior cavity700. Accordingly, two or more separate materials may partially orentirely fill the interior cavity 700. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The filler material may only include one or more polymer materials thatadhere to inner surface(s) of the interior cavity 700 without a separatebonding agent (e.g., an adhesive or epoxy material). For example, thefiller material may include a mixture of one or more polymer materialsand one or more bonding agents (e.g., adhesive or epoxy material(s)).Accordingly, the mixture including the one or more polymer materials andthe one or more bonding agents may partially or entirely fill theinterior cavity 700 and adhere to inner surface(s) of the interiorcavity 700. In another example, the interior cavity 700 may be partiallyor entirely filled with one or more polymer materials without anybonding agents. In yet another example, the interior cavity 700 may bepartially or entirely filled with one or more bonding agents and/oradhesive materials such as an adhesive or epoxy material. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Turning to FIG. 15, for example, a thickness of the face portion 162 maybe a first thickness 1510 (T₁) or a second thickness 1520 (T₂). Thefirst thickness 1510 may be a thickness of a section of the face portion162 adjacent to a groove 168 whereas the second thickness 1520 may be athickness of a section of the face portion 162 below the groove 168. Forexample, the first thickness 1510 may be a maximum distance between thefront surface 164 and the back surface 166. The second thickness 1520may be based on the groove 168. In particular, the groove 168 may have agroove depth 1525 (D_(groove)). The second thickness 1520 may be amaximum distance between the bottom of the groove 168 and the backsurface 166. The sum of the second thickness 1520 and the groove depth1525 may be substantially equal to the first thickness 1510 (e.g.,T₂+D_(groove)=T₁). Accordingly, the second thickness 1520 may be lessthan the first thickness 1510 (e.g., T₂≤T₁).

To lower and/or move the CG of the golf club head 100 further back, massfrom the front portion 160 of the golf club head 100 may be removed byusing a relatively thinner face portion 162. For example, the firstthickness 1510 or the second thickness 1520 may be less than or equal to0.1 inch (2.54 millimeters). In another example, the first thickness1510 may be about 0.075 inch (1.905 millimeters) (e.g., T₁=0.075 inch).With the support of the back wall portion 1410 to form the interiorcavity 700 and filling at least a portion of the interior cavity 700with an elastic polymer material, the face portion 162 may be relativelythinner (e.g., T₁<0.075 inch) without degrading the structuralintegrity, sound, and/or feel of the golf club head 100. In one example,the first thickness 1510 may be less than or equal to 0.060 inch (1.524millimeters) (e.g., T1≤0.060 inch). In another example, the firstthickness 1510 may be less than or equal to 0.040 inch (1.016millimeters) (e.g., T₁≤0.040 inch). Based on the type of material(s)used to form the face portion 162 and/or the body portion 110, the faceportion 162 may be even thinner with the first thickness 1510 being lessthan or equal to 0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters) (e.g., T₁≤0.030 inch).The groove depth 1525 may be greater than or equal to the secondthickness 1520 (e.g., D_(groove)≥T₂). In one example, the groove depth1525 may be about 0.020 inch (0.508 millimeters) (e.g., D_(groove)=0.020inch). Accordingly, the second thickness 1520 may be about 0.010 inch(0.254 millimeters) (e.g., T₂=0.010 inch). In another example, thegroove depth 1525 may be about 0.015 inch (0.381 millimeters), and thesecond thickness 1520 may be about 0.015 inch (e.g., D_(groove)=T₂=0.015inch). Alternatively, the groove depth 1525 may be less than the secondthickness 1520 (e.g., D_(groove)<T₂). Without the support of the backwall portion 1410 and the elastic polymer material to fill in theinterior cavity 700, a golf club head may not be able to withstandmultiple impacts by a golf ball on a face portion. In contrast to thegolf club head 100 as described herein, a golf club head with arelatively thin face portion but without the support of the back wallportion 1410 and the elastic polymer material to fill in the interiorcavity 700 (e.g., a cavity-back golf club head) may produce unpleasantsound (e.g., a tinny sound) and/or feel during impact with a golf ball.The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein arenot limited in this regard.

Based on manufacturing processes and methods used to form the golf clubhead 100, the face portion 162 may include additional material at orproximate to a periphery of the face portion 162. Accordingly, the faceportion 162 may also include a third thickness 1530, and a chamferportion 1540. The third thickness 1530 may be greater than either thefirst thickness 1510 or the second thickness 1520 (e.g., T₃>T₁>T₂). Inparticular, the face portion 162 may be coupled to the body portion 110by a welding process. For example, the first thickness 1510 may be about0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters), the second thickness 1520 may be about0.015 inch (0.381 millimeters), and the third thickness 1530 may beabout 0.050 inch (1.27 millimeters). Accordingly, the chamfer portion1540 may accommodate some of the additional material when the faceportion 162 is welded to the body portion 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, for example, the face portion 162 may includea reinforcement section, generally shown as 1605, below one or moregrooves 168. In one example, the face portion 162 may include areinforcement section 1605 below each groove. Alternatively, faceportion 162 may include the reinforcement section 1605 below somegrooves (e.g., every other groove) or below only one groove. The faceportion 162 may include a first thickness 1610, a second thickness 1620,a third thickness 1630, and a chamfer portion 1640. The groove 168 mayhave a groove depth 1625. The reinforcement section 1605 may define thesecond thickness 1620. The first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620,respectively, may be substantially equal to each other (e.g., T₁=T₂). Inone example, the first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620,respectively, may be about 0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters) (e.g.,T₁=T₂=0.030 inch). The groove depth 1625 may be about 0.015 inch (0.381millimeters), and the third thickness 1630 may be about 0.050 inch (1.27millimeters). The groove 168 may also have a groove width. The width ofthe reinforcement section 1605 may be greater than or equal to thegroove width. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

Alternatively, the face portion 162 may vary in thickness at and/orbetween the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190. In one example,the face portion 162 may be relatively thicker at or proximate to thetop portion 180 than at or proximate to the sole portion 190 (e.g.,thickness of the face portion 162 may taper from the top portion 180towards the sole portion 190). In another example, the face portion 162may be relatively thicker at or proximate to the sole portion 190 thanat or proximate to the top portion 180 (e.g., thickness of the faceportion 162 may taper from the sole portion 190 towards the top portion180). In yet another example, the face portion 162 may be relativelythicker between the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190 than at orproximate to the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190 (e.g.,thickness of the face portion 162 may have a bell-shaped contour). Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard. As described herein, the interior cavity 700 maybe partially or fully filled with a filler material, which may be apolymer material, a bonding agent (such as an adhesive or epoxymaterial), or a combination of polymer material(s) and bonding agent(s)to at least partially provide structural support for the face portion162. In particular, the filler material may also provide vibrationand/or noise dampening for the body portion 110 when the face portion162 strikes a golf ball. Alternatively, the filler material may onlyprovide vibration and/or noise dampening for the body portion 110 whenthe face portion 162 strikes a golf ball. In one example, the bodyportion 110 of the golf club head 100 (e.g., an iron-type golf clubhead) may have a body portion volume (V_(b)) between about 2.0 cubicinches (32.77 cubic centimeters) and about 4.2 cubic inches (68.83 cubiccentimeters). The volume of the filler material filling the interiorcavity (V_(e)), such as the interior cavity 700, may be between 0.5 and1.7 cubic inches (8.19 and 27.86 cubic centimeters, respectively). Aratio of the filler material volume (V_(e)) to the body portion volume(V_(b)) may be expressed as:

$0.2 \leq \frac{V_{e}}{V_{b}} \leq 0.5$

Where:

-   -   V_(e) is the filler material volume in units of in³, and    -   V_(b) is the body portion volume in units of in³.

In another example, the ratio of the filler material volume (V_(e)) tothe body portion volume (V_(b)) may be between about 0.2 and about 0.4.In yet another example, the ratio of the filler material volume (V_(e))to the body portion volume (V_(b)) may be between about 0.25 and about0.35. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

Based on the amount of filler material filling the interior cavity, forexample, the thickness of the face portion may be between about 0.025inches (0.635 millimeters) and about 0.1 inch (2.54 millimeters). Inanother example, the thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) may bebetween about 0.02 inches (0.508 millimeters) and about 0.09 inches(2.286 millimeters). The thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) maydepend on the volume of the filler material in the interior cavity(V_(e)), such as the interior cavity 700. The ratio of the thickness ofthe face portion (T_(ƒ)) to the volume of the filler material (V_(e))may be expressed as:

$0.01 \leq \frac{T_{f}}{V_{e}} \leq 0.2$

Where:

-   -   T_(ƒ) is the thickness of the face portion in units of inches,        and    -   V_(e) is the filler material volume in units of in³.

In one example, the ratio of the thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ))to the volume of the filler material (V_(e)) may be between 0.02 and0.09. In another example, the ratio of the thickness of the face portion(T_(ƒ)) to the volume of the filler material (V_(e)) may be between 0.04and 0.14. The thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) may be the same asT₁ and/or T₂ mentioned above. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) may depend on the volume ofthe filler material in the interior cavity (V_(e)), such as the interiorcavity 700, and the body portion volume (V_(b)). The volume of thefiller material (V_(e)) may be expressed as:

V _(e) =a*V _(b) +b+c*T _(ƒ)

a≅0.48

b≅−0.38

0≤c≤10

Where:

-   -   V_(e) is the filler material volume in units of in³,    -   V_(b) is the body portion volume in units of in³, and    -   T_(ƒ) is the thickness of the face portion in units of inches.

As described herein, for example, the body portion volume (V_(b)) may bebetween about 2.0 cubic inches (32.77 cubic centimeters) and about 4.2cubic inches (68.83 cubic centimeters). In one example, the thickness ofthe face portion (T_(ƒ)) may be about 0.03 inches (0.762 millimeters).In another example, the thickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) may beabout 0.06 inches (1.524 millimeters). In yet another example, thethickness of the face portion (T_(ƒ)) may be about 0.075 inches (1.905millimeters). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

Further, the volume of the filler material (V_(e)) when the interiorcavity is fully filled with the filler material may be similar to thevolume of the interior cavity (V_(c)). Accordingly, when the interiorcavity is fully filled with a filler material, the volume of the fillermaterial (V_(e)) in any of the equations provided herein may be replacedwith the volume of the interior cavity (V_(c)). Accordingly, the aboveequations expressed in terms of the volume of the interior cavity(V_(c)) may be expressed as:

$0.2 \leq \frac{Vc}{Vb} \leq 0.5$ $0.01 \leq \frac{Tf}{Vc} \leq 0.2$Vc = a ⋅ Vb + b ± c ⋅ Tf a ≅ 0.48 b ≅ −0.38 0 ≤ c ≤ 10

Where:

-   -   V_(c) is the volume of the interior cavity in units of in³,    -   V_(b) is the body portion volume in units of in³, and    -   T_(ƒ) is the thickness of the face portion in units of inches.

As described herein, the filler material may include a bonding agentthat may be bonded to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 toattach the remaining portions of the filler material to the back surface166 of the face portion 162, dampen noise and vibration, provide acertain feel and sound for the golf club head, and/or at least partiallystructurally support the face portion 162. The thickness of the bondingagent and/or a portion of the filler material may depend on a thicknessof the face portion 162. In one example, a relationship between athickness of the face portion 162 and a thickness of a bonding agentand/or a portion of the filler material may be expressed as:

$0.1 \leq \frac{T_{f}}{T_{a}} \leq 4.0$

Where:

-   -   T_(ƒ) is the thickness of the face portion in units of inches,        and    -   T_(α) is the thickness of the bonding agent and/or the thickness        of the filler material in units of inches.

In one example, the bonding agent and/or the filler material may have athickness ranging from 0.02 inch (0.51 millimeters) to 0.2 inch (5.08millimeters). In another example, the bonding agent and/or the fillermaterial may be have a thickness ranging from 0.04 inch (0.1.02millimeters) to 0.08 inch (2.03 millimeters). In another example, thebonding agent and/or the filler material may be have a thickness rangingfrom 0.03 inch (0.76 millimeters) to 0.06 inch (1.52 millimeters). Inyet another example, the bonding agent and/or the filler material mayhave a thickness ranging from 0.01 inch (0.25 millimeters) to 0.3 inch(7.62 millimeters). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 17 depicts one manner in which the example golf club head describedherein may be manufactured. In the example of FIG. 17, the process 1700may begin with providing one or more mass portions, generally shown asthe first and second sets of mass portions 120 and 130, respectively(block 1710). The first set of mass portions 120 and/or the second setof mass portions 130 may be made of a first material such as atungsten-based material, a titanium-based material, a steel-basedmaterial, an aluminum-based material, a non-metal material, anycombination thereof, or other suitable type of materials. In oneexample, the mass portions of the first and second sets 120 and 130,respectively, may be tungsten-alloy screws.

The process 1700 may provide a body portion 110 having the face portion162, the interior cavity 700, and the back portion 170 with two or moreports, generally shown as 1420 and 1430 (block 1720). The body portion110 may be made of a second material, which may be different than thefirst material or similar to the first material. The body portion 110may be manufactured using an investment casting process, a billetforging process, a stamping process, a computer numerically controlled(CNC) machining process, a die casting process, any combination thereof,or other suitable manufacturing processes. In one example, the bodyportion 110 may be made of 17-4 PH stainless steel using a castingprocess. In another example, the body portion 110 may be made of othersuitable type of stainless steel (e.g., Nitronic® 50 stainless steelmanufactured by AK Steel Corporation, West Chester, Ohio) using aforging process. By using Nitronic® 50 stainless steel to manufacturethe body portion 110, the golf club head 100 may be relatively strongerand/or more resistant to corrosion than golf club heads made from othertypes of steel. One or more ports of the body portion 110 may include anopening and a port wall. For example, the port 1421 may include theopening 720 and the port wall 725 with the opening 720 and the port wall725 being on opposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700 mayseparate the port wall 725 of the port 1421 and the back surface 166 ofthe face portion 162. In a similar manner, the port 1435 may include theopening 730 and the port wall 735 with the opening 730 and the port wall735 being on opposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700 mayseparate the port wall 735 of the port 1435 and the back surface 166 ofthe face portion 162.

The process 1700 may couple one or more mass portions of the first andsecond sets of mass portions 120 and 130 into one of the one or moreports (blocks 1730). In one example, the process 1700 may insert andsecure the mass portion 121 in the port 1421, and the mass portion 135in the port 1435. The process 1700 may use various manufacturing methodsand/or processes to secure the first set of mass portions 120 and/or thesecond set of mass portions 130 in the ports such as the ports 1421 and1435 (e.g., epoxy, welding, brazing, mechanical lock(s), any combinationthereof, etc.).

The process 1700 may partially or entirely fill the interior cavity 700with a filler material, which may be one or a combination of a polymermaterial (e.g., an ethylene copolymer material such as DuPont™ HPFfamily of materials) (block 1740) and/or a bonding agent (e.g., anadhesive or epoxy material such as 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy AdhesivesDP100, DP100 Plus, DP100NS and DP100FR). In one example, the fillermaterial may fill at least 50% of the interior cavity 700. As mentionedabove, the filler material may absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/ordampen noise in response to the golf club head 100 striking a golf ball.In one example, the interior cavity 700 may be filled with fillermaterial, which may be a polymer material, a thermoplastic elastomermaterial, a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a bonding agent, and/ora combination thereof. In another example, the interior cavity 700 maybe entirely filled with a bonding agent. As illustrated in FIG. 18, forexample, the golf club head 100 may include one or more ports (e.g., oneshown as 1431 in FIG. 14) with a first opening 1830 and a second opening1835. The second opening 1835 may be used to access the interior cavity700. In one example, the process 1700 (FIG. 17) may fill the interiorcavity 700 with a filler material by injecting the filler material intothe interior cavity 700 from the first opening 1830 via the secondopening 1835. The first and second openings 1830 and 1835, respectively,may be same or different in size and/or shape. While the above examplemay describe and depict a particular port with a second opening, anyother ports of the golf club head 100 may include a second opening(e.g., the port 1421). The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring back to FIG. 17, the example process 1700 is merely providedand described in conjunction with other figures as an example of one wayto manufacture the golf club head 100. While a particular order ofactions is illustrated in FIG. 17, these actions may be performed inother temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted inFIG. 17 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously.In one example, blocks 1710, 1720, 1730, and/or 1740 may be performedsimultaneously or concurrently. Although FIG. 17 depicts a particularnumber of blocks, the process may not perform one or more blocks. In oneexample, the interior cavity 700 may not be filled (i.e., block 1740 maynot be performed). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard. Referring back to FIGS.1-14, the face portion 162 may include a non-smooth back surface toimprove adhesion and/or mitigate delamination between the face portion162 and the elastic polymer material used to fill the interior cavity700 (e.g., FIG. 7). Various methods and/or processes such as an abrasiveblasting process (e.g., a bead blasting process, a sand blastingprocess, other suitable blasting process, or any combination thereof)and/or a milling (machining) process may be used to form the backsurface 166 into a non-smooth surface. For example, the back surface 166may have with a surface roughness (Ra) ranging from 0.5 to 250 μin(0.012 to 6.3 μm). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufactureare not limited in this regard.

Referring to FIG. 19, for example, the golf club head 100 may includethe face portion 162, a bonding portion 1910, and a polymer material1920. The bonding portion 1910 may provide connection, attachment and/orbonding of the polymer material 1920 to the face portion 162. In oneexample, the bonding portion 1910 and/or the polymer material 1920 maydefine a filler material as described herein. The bonding portion 1910may be a bonding agent such as any of adhesive or epoxy materialsdescribed herein, a tacky material, a combination of bonding agents, abonding structure or attachment device (i.e., a physical and/ormechanical structure or device), a combination of bonding structuresand/or attachment devices, and/or a combination of one or more bondingagents, one or more bonding structures and/or one or more attachmentdevices. The bonding portion 1910 may be integral with the polymermaterial 1920 to partially or entirely fill the interior cavity 700. Inother words, the polymer material 1920 may include inherent bondingproperties. For example, the bonding portion 1910 may be a bonding agentmixed with the polymer material 1910 to provide bonding of the mixtureto the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 and/or other innersurface(s) of the body portion 110. In one example, the bonding portionmay include one or more surface textures or surface structures on theback surface 166 of the face portion 162 to assist in adhesion of thepolymer material to the back surface 166 of the face portion. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in thisregard.

For example, the golf club head 100 may include a bonding agent such asany adhesive or epoxy materials described herein to improve adhesionand/or mitigate delamination between the face portion 162 and thepolymer material 1920 used to fill the interior cavity 700 of the golfclub head 100 (e.g., FIG. 7). The bonding portion 1910 may be applied tothe back surface 166 of the face portion 162 to bond the polymermaterial 1920 to the face portion 162 (e.g., extending between the backsurface 166 and the polymer material 1920). For example, the bondingportion 1910 may be applied before or during when the interior cavity700 is filled with the polymer material 1920 via an injection moldingprocess or other suitable process. The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 20 depicts one manner to partially or entirely fill the interiorcavity 700 of the golf club head 100 or any of the golf club headsdescribed herein with a filler material. The process 2000 may begin withheating the golf club head 100 to a certain temperature (block 2010). Inone example, the golf club head 100 may be heated to a temperatureranging between 150° C. and 250° C., which may depend on factors such asthe vaporization temperature of the one or more components of the fillermaterial to be injected in the interior cavity 700. The filler materialmay then be heated to a certain temperature (block 2020). In oneexample, the filler material may be a non-foaming and injection-moldablethermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. Accordingly, the filler materialmay be heated to reach a liquid or a flowing state prior to beinginjected into the interior cavity 700. The temperature at which thefiller material may be heated may depend on the type of polymer materialused to form the filler material. The heated filler material may beinjected into the interior cavity 700 to partially or fully fill theinterior cavity 700 (block 2030). The filler material may be injectedinto the interior cavity 700 from one or more of the ports describedherein (e.g., one or more ports of the first and second sets of ports1420 and 1430, respectively, shown in FIG. 14). One or more other portsmay allow the air inside the interior cavity 700 displaced by the fillermaterial to vent from the interior cavity 700. In one example, the golfclub head 100 may be oriented horizontally as shown in FIG. 14 duringthe injection molding process. The filler material may be injected intothe interior cavity 700 from ports 1431 and 1432. The ports 1421, 1422and/or 1423 may serve as air ports for venting the displaced air fromthe interior cavity 700. Thus, regardless of the orientation of the golfclub head 100 during the injection molding process, the filler materialmay be injected into the interior cavity 700 from one or more lowerpositioned ports while one or more upper positioned ports may serve asair vents. The mold (e.g., the golf club head 100) may then be cooledpassively (e.g., at room temperature) or actively so that the fillermaterial reaches a solid state and adheres to the back surface 166 ofthe face portion 162. The filler material may directly adhere to theback surface 166 of the face portion 162. Alternatively, the fillermaterial may adhere to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 withthe aid of the one or more structures on the back surface 166 and/or thebonding portion 1910 shown in FIG. 19 (e.g., a bonding agent asdescribed herein). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

As described above, the filler material may be heated to a liquid state(i.e., non-foaming) and solidifies after being injection molded in theinterior cavity 700. A filler material with a low modulus of elasticitymay provide vibration and/or noise dampening for the face portion 162when the face portion 162 impacts a golf ball. For example, a polymermaterial that foams when heated may provide vibration and/or noisedampening. However, such a foaming polymer material may not havesufficient rigidity to provide structural support to a relatively thinface portion because of possible excessive deflection and/or compressionof the polymer material when absorbing the impact of a golf ball. In oneexample, the one or more components of the filler material that isinjection molded in the interior cavity 700 may have a relatively highmodulus of elasticity to provide structural support to the face portion162 and yet elastically deflect to absorb the impact forces experiencedby the face portion 162 when striking a golf ball. Thus, a non-foamingand injection moldable polymer material with a relatively high modulusof elasticity may be used for partially or entirely filling the interiorcavity 700 to provide structural support and reinforcement for the faceportion 162 in addition to providing vibration and noise dampening. Thatis, the non-foaming and injection moldable polymer material may be astructural support portion for the face portion 162. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

As described herein, the filler material may include a bonding portion.The bonding portion may include an adhesive or epoxy material with athickness to provide structural support for the face portion 162.Accordingly, the filler material may include a foaming polymer materialto provide vibration and noise dampening whereas the bonding portion mayprovide structural support for the face portion 162. The thickness ofthe bonding portion may depend on a thickness and physical properties ofthe face portion 162 as described herein. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

As described herein, the filler material may include a bonding agent(e.g., an adhesive or epoxy material) and a polymer material. FIG. 21depicts one manner in which a bonding agent as described herein may beapplied to a golf club head prior to partially or entirely filling theinterior cavity 700. In the example of FIG. 21, the process 2100 maybegin with injecting a bonding agent on the back surface 166 of the faceportion 162 (block 2110). The bonding agent may be injected on the backsurface 166 prior to or after heating the golf club head as describedabove depending on the properties of the bonding agent. The bondingagent may be injected through one or more of the first set of ports 1420and/or the second set of ports 1430. The bonding agent may be injectedon the back surface 166 through several or all of the first set of ports1420 and the second set of ports 1430. For example, an injectioninstrument such as a nozzle or a needle may be inserted into each portuntil the tip or outlet of the instrument is near the back surface 166.The bonding agent may then be injected on the back surface 166 from theoutlet of the instrument. Additionally, the instrument may be moved,rotated and/or swiveled while inside the interior cavity 700 so that thebonding agent is injected onto an area of the back surface 166surrounding the instrument. For example, the outlet of the injectioninstrument may be moved in a circular pattern while inside a port toinject the bonding agent in a corresponding circular pattern on the backsurface 166. Each of the first set of ports 1420 and the second set ofports 1430 may be utilized to inject a bonding agent on the back surface166. However, utilizing all of first ports 1420 and/or the second set ofports 1430 may not be necessary. For example, using every other adjacentport may be sufficient to inject a bonding agent on the entire backsurface 166. In another example, ports 1421, 1422 1431, 1433 and 1436may be used to inject the bonding agent on the back surface 166. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in thisregard.

The process 2100 may also include spreading the bonding agent on theback surface 166 (block 2120) after injection of the bonding agent ontothe back surface 166 so that a generally uniform coating of the bondingagent is provided on the back surface 166. According to one example, thebonding agent may be spread on the back surface 166 by injecting airinto the interior cavity 700 through one or more of the first set ofports 1420 and the second set of ports 1430. The air may be injectedinto the interior cavity 700 and on the back surface 166 by inserting anair nozzle into one or more of the first set of ports 1420 and thesecond set of ports 1430. According to one example, the air nozzle maybe moved, rotated and/or swiveled at a certain distance from the backsurface 166 so as to uniformly blow air onto the bonding agent to spreadthe bonding agent on the back surface 166 for a uniform coating or asubstantially uniform coating of the bonding agent on the back surface166. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limitedin this regard.

The example process 2100 is merely provided and described in conjunctionwith other figures as an example of one way to manufacture the golf clubhead 100. While a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 21,these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. Further, twoor more actions depicted in FIG. 21 may be performed sequentially,concurrently, or simultaneously. The process 2100 may include a singleaction of injecting and uniformly or substantially uniformly coating theback surface 166 with the bonding agent. In one example, the bondingagent may be injected on the back surface 166 by being converted intofine particles or droplets (i.e., atomized) and sprayed on the backsurface 166. Accordingly, the back surface 166 may be uniformly orsubstantially uniformly coated with the bonding agent in one action(i.e., a substantially uniform coating of bonding agent particles,droplets or beads). A substantially uniform coating of the back surface166 with the bonding agent may be defined as a coating having slightnon-uniformities due to the injection process or the manufacturingprocess. However, such slight non-uniformities may not affect thebonding of the polymer material to the back surface 166 with the bondingagent as described herein. For example, spraying the bonding agent onthe back surface 166 may result in overlapping regions of the bondingagent having a slightly greater coating thickness than other regions ofthe bonding agent on the back surface 166. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

As described herein, any two or more of the mass portions may beconfigured as a single mass portion. In the example of FIGS. 22 and 23,a golf club head 2200 may include a body portion 2210 and one or moremass portions, generally shown as a first set of mass portions 2220(e.g., shown as mass portions 2221, 2222, 2223, and 2224) and a secondmass portion 2230. The body portion 2210 may be made of a first materialwhereas the first set of mass portions 2220 and/or the second massportion 2230 may be made of a second material. The first and secondmaterials may be similar or different materials. The first and secondmaterials of the body portion 2210 and/or the first and second massportions 2220 and 2230, respectively, may be similar to the first andsecond materials of the golf club head 100. The body portion 2210 mayinclude a toe portion 2240, a heel portion 2250, a front portion (notshown), a back portion 2270 with a back wall portion 2310, a top portion2280, and a sole portion 2290. The heel portion 2250 may include a hoselportion 2255 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) with a grip (notshown) on one end, and the golf club head 2200 on the opposite end ofthe shaft to form a golf club. The front portion may be similar to thefront portion 160 of the golf club head 100. Further, the golf club head2200 may be the same type of golf club head as any of the golf clubheads described herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture are not limited in this regard.

The body portion 2210 may include one or more ports along a periphery ofthe body portion 2210, generally shown as a first set of ports 2320(e.g., shown as ports 2321, 2322, 2323, and 2324) and a second port2330. Each port of the first set of ports 2320 may be associated with aport diameter and at least one port of the first set of ports 2320 maybe separated from an adjacent port similar to any of the ports describedherein. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are notlimited in this regard.

One or more mass portion of the first set of mass portions 2220 (e.g.,shown as mass portions 2221, 2222, 2223, and 2224) may be disposed in aport of the first set of ports 2320 (e.g., shown as ports 2321, 2322,2323, and 2324) located at or proximate to the toe portion 2240 and/orthe top portion 2280 on the back portion 2270. The physical propertiesand/or configurations of the first set of ports 2320 and the first setof mass portions 2220 may be similar to the golf club head 100. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in thisregard.

The second port 2330 may have any configuration and/or extend to and/orbetween the toe portion 2240 and the heel portion 2250. As illustratedin FIG. 22, for example, the second port 2330 may be a recess extendingfrom the toe portion 2240 or a location proximate to the toe portion2240 to the sole portion 2290 or a location proximate to the soleportion 2290. Accordingly, the second port 2330 may resemble an L-shapedrecess. The second mass portion 2230 may resemble the shape of thesecond port 2330 and may be disposed in the second port 2330. The secondmass portion 2230 may be partially or fully disposed in the second port2330. The second mass portion 2230 may have any shape such as oval,rectangular, triangular, or any geometric or non-geometric shape. Thesecond port 2330 may be shaped similar to the second mass portion 2230.However, portion(s) of the second mass portion 2230 that are inserted inthe second port 2330 may have similar shapes as the second port 2330. Inone example (not shown), the second port 2330 may have a generallyrectangular shape and located at or near the sole portion 2290 extendingto and/or between the toe portion 2240 and the heel portion 2250.Accordingly, at least a portion of the second mass portion 2230 may havea similar shape as the second port 2330. As described herein, any of themass portions described herein, including the first mass portions 2220and the second mass portion 2230 may be coupled to the back portion 2270of the body portion 2210 with various manufacturing methods and/orprocesses (e.g., a bonding process, a welding process, a brazingprocess, a mechanical locking method, any combination thereof, or othersuitable manufacturing methods and/or processes). The second massportion 2230 may be a polymer material that may be injection molded intothe second port 2330 as described herein. Also as described herein, anyof the mass portions described herein including the mass portion 2230may be integral with the body portion 2210. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

The second mass portion 2230 may affect the location of the CG of thegolf club head 100 and the MOI of the golf club head about a verticalaxis that extends through the CG of the golf club head 2200. All or asubstantial portion of the second mass portion 2230 may be generallynear the sole portion 2290. For example, the second mass portion 2230may be near the periphery of the body portion 2210 and extend to and/orbetween the sole portion 2290 and the toe portion 2240. As shown in theexample of FIG. 23, the second mass portion 2230 may be located at orproximate to the periphery of the body portion 2210 and partially orsubstantially extend at or proximate to the sole portion 2290. A portionof the second mass portion 2230 may be located near the periphery of thebody portion 2210 and extend to and/or between the sole portion 2290 andthe toe portion 2240 to lower the CG and increase the MOI of the golfclub head 2200 about a vertical axis that extends through the CG. Tolower the CG of the golf club head 2200, all or a portion of the secondmass portion 2230 may be located closer to the sole portion 2290 than toa horizontal midplane 2360 of the golf club head 2200. The horizontalmidplane 2360 may be vertically halfway between the ground and topplanes 2355 and 2365, respectively. The location of the second massportion 2230 (i.e., the location of the second port 2330) and thephysical properties and materials of construction of the mass portionsof the second port 2230 may be determined to optimally affect the mass,mass distribution, CG, MOI characteristics, structural integrity and/oror other static and/or dynamic characteristics of the golf club head2200. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

To balance the mass of a golf club head, such as any of the golf clubheads described herein, a golf club head may include one or more hoselmass portions. In one example, the golf club head 2200 may include hoselmass portions 2267 and 2269. The hosel mass portion 2267 may bepermanently attached to the hosel portion 2255 whereas the hosel massportion 2269 may be removable and exchangeable with other hosel massportions to balance the mass of the golf club head 2200 at the hoselportion 2255. The hosel mass portions 2267 and 2269 may be a third setof mass portions for the golf club head 2200. In one example, the hoselmass portions 2267 and 2269 and the first set of mass portions 2220 maybe collectively the first set of mass portions. The apparatus, methods,and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in thisregard.

While the figures may depict a particular number of mass portions in thehosel portion 2255 (e.g., two shown as mass portions 2267 and 2269), theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein mayinclude separate mass portions or a single mass portion (e.g., the massportions 2267 and 2269 may be a single mass portion). The mass portions2267 and/or 2269 may be the same or different material than the bodyportion 2210 and/or other mass portions of the golf club head 2200(e.g., generally shown as 2220 and 2230). The mass of each of the massportions 2267 and 2269 may be greater than, less than, or equal to themass of any other mass portions of the golf club head 2200 (e.g.,generally shown as 2220 and 2230). Further, the hosel portion 2255 mayinclude one or more ports configured to receive and/or engage one ormore mass portions. In one example, a port (e.g. one shown as 2271 inFIG. 23) in the hosel portion 2255 may be connected to an interiorcavity (e.g., one schematically shown as 700 in FIG. 7) of the golf clubhead. The port 2271 in the hosel portion 2255 may include an opening(e.g., one shown as 1835 in FIG. 18). Accordingly, the interior cavitymay be partially or entirely filled through an opening of the port 2271in the hosel portion 2255. For example, the polymer material may beinjected into the interior cavity. The mass portions 2267 and/or 2269may enclose the port 2271 in the hosel portion 2255. In one example, themass portions 2267 and/or 2269 may be a screw to engage the port 2271 inthe hosel portion 2255. In another example, the mass portions 2267and/or 2269 may not include any threads (i.e., the mass portions 2267and/or 2269 may be coupled to the port 2271 in the hosel portion 2255with or without adhesive. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

For brevity, the description of processes described herein withreference to FIGS. 24-26 may be provided in reference to the golf clubhead 100. However, any apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein is applicable to any of the golf club heads describedherein. FIG. 24 depicts one manner that the interior cavity of any ofthe golf club heads described herein may be partially or entirely filledwith one or more filler materials such as any of the filler materialsdescribed herein. The example process 2400 may begin with bonding abonding agent to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 of thegolf club head 100 (block 2410). The bonding agent may have an initialbonding state, which may be a temporary bonding state, and a finalbonding state, which may be a permanent bonding state. The initialbonding state and the final bonding states may be activated when thebonding agent is exposed to heat, radiation, and/or other chemicalcompounds. For example, as described herein, the bonding agent may be anepoxy having an initial cure state and a final cure state that areactivated by the epoxy being heated to different temperatures for aperiod of time, respectively, by conduction, convention, and/orradiation. In another example, the bonding agent may be a bondingmaterial that is activated to an initial bonding state and a finalbonding state by being exposed to different doses and/or duration ofultraviolet radiation, respectively. In another example, the bondingagent may be a bonding material that is activated to an initial bondingstate and a final bonding state by being exposed to different compoundsor different amounts of the same compound, respectively. According tothe process 2400, the bonding agent may be bonded to the back surface166 of the face portion 162 by being activated to the initial bondingstate. A polymer material is then injected in the interior cavity 700 ofthe golf club head 100 (block 2420). The example process 2400 thenincludes bonding the polymer material to the bonding agent (block 2430).Bonding the polymer material to the bonding agent may include activatingthe bonding agent to the final bonding state to permanently bond thepolymer material to the bonding agent and to permanently bond thebonding agent to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. Theexample process 2400 is merely provided and described in conjunctionwith other figures as an example of one way to manufacture the golf clubhead 100. While a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 24,these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. Further, twoor more actions depicted in FIG. 24 may be performed sequentially,concurrently, or simultaneously.

FIG. 25 depicts one manner that the interior cavity 700 of the golf clubhead 100 or any of the golf club heads described herein may be partiallyor entirely filled with one or more filler materials such any of thefiller materials described herein. The process 2500 may begin withapplying a bonding agent (e.g., a bonding portion 1910 of FIG. 19) tothe back surface 166 of the face portion 162 of the golf club head 100(block 2510). The bonding agent may be any type of adhesive and/or othersuitable materials. In one example, the bonding agent may be an epoxy.Prior to applying the bonding agent, the golf club head 100 may becleaned to remove any oils, other chemicals, debris or other unintendedmaterials from the golf club head 100 (not shown). The bonding agent maybe applied on the back surface 166 as described herein depending on theproperties of the bonding agent. The bonding agent may be applied to theback surface 166 of the face portion 162 through one or more of thefirst set of ports 1420 and/or the second set of ports 1430. Forexample, the bonding agent may be in liquid form and injected on theback surface 166 through several or all of the first set of ports 1420and the second set of ports 1430. An injection instrument (not shown)such as a nozzle or a needle may be inserted into each port until thetip or outlet of the injection instrument is near the back surface 166.The bonding agent may then be injected on the back surface 166 from theoutlet of the injection instrument. Additionally, the injectioninstrument may be moved, rotated, and/or swiveled while inside theinterior cavity 700 so that the bonding agent may be injected onto anarea of the back surface 166 surrounding the injection instrument. Forexample, the outlet of the injection instrument may be moved in acircular pattern while inside a port to inject the bonding agent in acorresponding circular pattern on the back surface 166. Each of thefirst set of ports 1420 and the second set of ports 1430 may be utilizedto inject a bonding agent on the back surface 166. However, utilizingall of first ports 1420 and/or the second set of ports 1430 may not benecessary. For example, using every other adjacent port may besufficient to inject a bonding agent on the entire back surface 166. Inanother example, ports 1421, 1422 1431, 1433 and 1436 may be used toinject the bonding agent on the back surface 166. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

The example process 2500 may also include spreading or overlaying thebonding agent on the back surface 166 (not shown) after injecting thebonding agent onto the back surface 166 so that a generally uniformcoating of the bonding agent is provided on the back surface 166.According to one example, the bonding agent may be spread on the backsurface 166 by injecting air into the interior cavity 700 through one ormore ports of the first set of ports 1420 and/or the second set of ports1430. The air may be injected into the interior cavity 700 and on theback surface 166 by inserting an air nozzle into one or more ports ofthe first set of ports 1420 and/or the second set of ports 1430.According to one example, the air nozzle may be moved, rotated and/orswiveled at a certain distance from the back surface 166 to uniformlyblow air onto the bonding agent and spread the bonding agent on the backsurface 166 for a uniform coating or a substantially uniform coating ofthe bonding agent on the back surface 166. Further, the golf club head100 may be pivoted back and forth in one or several directions so thatthe bonding agent may spread along a portion or substantially the entirearea of the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. In one example,the golf club head 100 may be vibrated with the back surface 166 of theface portion 162 in a generally horizontal orientation so that thebonding agent may spread or overlay on the back surface 166 in a uniformcoating manner or a substantially uniform coating manner. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

The example process 2500 is merely provided and described in conjunctionwith other figures as an example of one way to manufacture the golf clubhead 100 or any of the golf club heads described herein. While aparticular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 25, these actions maybe performed in other temporal sequences. Further, two or more actionsdepicted in FIG. 25 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, orsimultaneously. The example process 2500 may include a single action(not shown) of injecting and uniformly or substantially uniformlycoating the back surface 166 with the bonding agent. In one example, thebonding agent may be injected on the back surface 166 by being convertedinto fine particles or droplets (i.e., atomized) and sprayed on the backsurface 166. Accordingly, the back surface 166 may be uniformly orsubstantially uniformly coated with the bonding agent in one action. Asubstantially uniform coating of the bonding agent on the back surface166 may be defined as a coating having slight non-uniformities due tothe injection process or the manufacturing process. However, such slightnon-uniformities may not affect the bonding of the elastic polymermaterial or elastomer material to the back surface 166 with the bondingagent as described herein. For example, spraying the bonding agent onthe back surface 166 may result in overlapping regions of the bondingagent having a slightly greater coating thickness than other regions ofthe bonding agent on the back surface 166. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

In one example as shown in FIG. 26, the bonding agent may be an epoxyhaving different curing states based on the temperature and the amountof time to which the epoxy may be exposed. The bonding agent may have anuncured state, an initial cure state, and a final cure state. In oneexample, the uncured state may be a liquid state, the initial cure statemay be gel or a semi-solid/semi-liquid state, and the final cure statemay be a solid state. The bonding agent may transition from the uncuredstate to the initial cure state when the bonding agent is heated to atemperature between an initial cure state temperature (Temp_(i)) and afinal cure state temperature (Temp_(f)) for a period of time.Accordingly, an initial cure state temperature range may be defined bytemperatures that are greater than or equal to the initial cure statetemperature Temp_(i) and less than the final cure state temperatureTemp_(f). The bonding agent may transition from the initial cure stateto the final cure state when the bonding agent may be heated to atemperature greater than or equal to the final cure state temperatureTemp_(f) for a period of time. Accordingly, a final cure statetemperature range may be defined by temperatures that are greater thanor equal to the final cure state temperature Temp_(f). The initial curestate temperature Temp_(i) and the final cure state temperature Temp_(f)may vary based on the amount of time that the bonding agent may beheated. In particular, a transition from the uncured state to theinitial cure state and a transition from the initial cure state to thefinal cure state may be dictated by certain temperature and timeprofiles based on the properties of the bonding agent. At a temperaturebelow the initial cure temperature Temp_(i), the bonding agent may be inthe uncured state (e.g., a liquid state). In the initial cure state, thebonding agent may form an initial bond with an object and become pliableto be manipulated (e.g., moved, spread, overlay, etc.) without obtainingfull cross linking or forming a permanent bond. In other words, thebonding agent may form an initial bond with an object and be manipulatedwithout forming a permanent bond. In the final cure state, the bond ofthe bonding agent (e.g., cross linking for a bonding agent that includesepoxy) may be complete or become permanently set.

The bonding agent may be applied to the back surface 166 of the faceportion 162 when the bonding agent is in the uncured state, which may bea liquid state. Subsequently, the golf club head 100 and/or the bondingagent may be heated to a first temperature Temp₁ that is greater than orequal to the initial cure state temperature Temp_(i) and less than thefinal cure state temperature Temp_(f) to change the bonding agent froman uncured state to an initial cure state (i.e., an initial cure statetemperature range) (block 2520). Accordingly, the bonding agent may forman initial bond with the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. Afterbonding the bonding agent to the back surface 166, the golf club head100 may be cooled for a period of time at ambient or room temperature(not shown). Accordingly, the bonding agent may be in an initial curedstate and bonded to the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 so thatthe bonding agent may be bonded to the back surface 166 during theinjection molding of a polymer material in the interior cavity 700.Ambient or room temperature may be defined as a room temperature rangingbetween 5° C. (32° F.) and 31° C. (104° F.). The first temperature Temp₁and duration by which the golf club head 100 and/or the bonding agentheated to the first temperature Temp₁ may depend on the curing orbonding properties of the bonding agent. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

After the bonding agent is bonded to the back surface 166 of the faceportion 162, the golf club head 100 may be heated (i.e., pre-heating thegolf club head 100) prior to receiving a polymer material (not shown).The golf club head 100 may be heated so that when the polymer materialis injected in the golf club head 100, the polymer material is notcooled by contact with the golf club head and remains in a flowingliquid form to fill the internal cavity 700. The temperature at whichthe golf club head is heated, which may be referred to herein as a thirdtemperature, may be similar to the temperature of the polymer materialwhen being injected into the internal cavity 700. However, thetemperature at which the golf club head is heated may be less than thefinal cure temperature Temp_(f) of the bonding agent. Accordingly, thebonding agent may not transition from the initial cure state to thefinal cured state during the injection molding process. Further, thepre-heating temperature of the golf club head 100 may be determined sothat excessive cooling of the golf club head 100 may not be necessaryafter injection molding the polymer material in the internal cavity 700.Prior to being injected into the internal cavity 700, the polymermaterial may also be heated to a liquid state (not shown). Thetemperature at which the polymer material may be heated may depend onthe type of polymer material used to partially or fully fill theinterior cavity 700. Further, the temperature at which the polymermaterial is heated may be determined so that shrinkage of the polymermaterial is reduced during the injection molding process. However, asdescribed herein, the polymer material may be heated to a temperaturethat is less than the final cure temperature Temp_(f) of the bondingagent. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are notlimited in this regard.

As described herein, the cavity 700 may be partially or fully filledwith a polymer material by injecting the polymer material in the cavity700 (block 2530). The injection speed of the polymer material may bedetermined so that the interior cavity 700 may be slowly filled toprovide a better fill while allowing air to escape the interior cavity700 and allowing the injected polymer material to rapidly cool. Forexample, the polymer material may be a non-foaming andinjection-moldable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. The polymermaterial may be injected into the interior cavity 700 from one or moreof the ports described herein (e.g., one or more ports of the first andsecond sets of ports 1420 and 1430, respectively, shown in FIG. 14). Oneor more other ports may allow the air inside the interior cavity 700displaced by the polymer material to vent from the interior cavity 700.In one example, the golf club head 100 may be oriented horizontally asshown in FIG. 14 during the injection molding process. The polymermaterial may be injected into the interior cavity 700 from ports 1431and 1432. The ports 1421, 1422 and/or 1423 may serve as air ports forventing the displaced air from the interior cavity 700. Thus, regardlessof the orientation of the golf club head 100 during the injectionmolding process, the polymer material may be injected into the interiorcavity 700 from one or more lower positioned ports while one or moreupper positioned ports may serve as air vents.

According to one example, any one of the ports or any air vent of thegolf club head 100 used as air port(s) for venting the displaced air maybe connected to a vacuum source (not shown) during the injection moldingprocess. Accordingly, air inside the interior cavity 700 and displacedby the polymer material may be removed from the interior cavity 700 bythe vacuum source. Accordingly, trapped air pocket(s) in the interiorcavity 700 and/or a non-uniform filling of the interior cavity 700 withthe polymer material may be reduced. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

After injecting the polymer material into the interior cavity 700, thegolf club head 100 may be heated to a second temperature Temp₂ that isgreater than or equal to the final cure temperature Temp_(f) of thebonding agent to reactivate the bonding agent to bond the polymermaterial to the bonding agent (i.e., a final cure state temperaturerange) (block 2540). The second temperature Temp₂ and the duration bywhich the golf club head 100 is heated to the second temperature Temp₂may depend on the properties of the bonding agent as shown in FIG. 26 toform a permanent bond between the golf club head 100 and the bondingagent and between the polymer material and the bonding agent. The golfclub head 100 may be then cooled at ambient or room temperature (notshown). According to one example, the characteristic time (CT) of thegolf club head 100 may be measured (not shown) after manufacturing thegolf club head 100 as described herein. CT measurements may determine ifthe golf club head 100 conforms to CT rules established by one or moregolf governing bodies.

In one example, for any of the golf club heads described herein, thethickness of the face portion (T_(f)) may be related to a thickness ofthe bonding agent (T_(b)) by the following expression:

Tb=d*Tƒ

Where:

-   -   1≤d≤6    -   Tƒ is the thickness of the face portion in units of inch, and    -   Tb is the thickness of the bonding agent in units of inch.

In one example, according to the above expression, the thickness of thebonding agent may be similar to the thickness of the face portion. Forexample, the thickness of the face portion and the thickness of thebonding agent may be 0.050 inch (1.25 mm). In another example, thethickness of the bonding agent may be twice the thickness of the faceportion. For example, the thickness of the face portion may be 0.05 inch(1.25 mm) and the thickness of the bonding agent may be 0.1 inch (2.54mm). In another example, the thickness of the bonding agent may be fourtimes greater than the thickness of the face portion. For example, thethickness of the face portion may be 0.05 inch (1.25 mm) and thethickness of the bonding agent may be 0.2 inch (5.08 mm). In yet anotherexample, the thickness of the bonding agent may be five times greaterthan to the thickness of the face portion. For example, the thickness ofthe face portion may be 0.05 inch (1.25 mm) and the thickness of thebonding agent may be 0.3 inch (7.62 mm). The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, for any of the golf club heads described herein, thehardness of the face portion may be greater than the hardness of thebonding agent, and the hardness of the bonding agent may be greater thanthe hardness of the polymer material or polymer material that at leastpartially fills the golf club head as described herein. The relationshipbetween the hardness of the face portion, the hardness of the bondingagent, and the hardness of the polymer material may be expressed as:

Dƒ>Db>De

Where:

-   -   Dƒ is the hardness of the face portion,    -   Db is the hardness of the bonding agent, and    -   De is the hardness of the polymer material.

In one example, the hardness of the face portion may be greater than orequal to 35 HRC (Rockwell Hardness C) and less than or equal to 55 HRC.In another example, the hardness of the face portion may be greater thanor equal to 45 HRC and less than or equal to 65 HRC. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

In one example, the hardness of the bonding agent may be greater than orequal to 20 Shore D (Shore durometer hardness type D) and less than orequal to 90 Shore D. In another example, the hardness of the bondingagent may be greater than or equal to 30 Shore D and less than or equalto 60 Shore D. In yet another example, the hardness of the bonding agentmay be greater than or equal to 40 Shore D and less than or equal to 50Shore D. In yet another example, the hardness of the bonding agent maybe greater than or equal to 55 Shore D and less than or equal to 70Shore D. In yet another example, the hardness of the bonding agent maybe greater than or equal to 60 Shore D to less than or equal to 75 ShoreD. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described hereinare not limited in this regard.

In one example, the hardness of the polymer material at least partiallyor entirely filling the interior cavity and bonded to the face portionwith the bonding agent may be greater than or equal to 5 Shore D (Shoredurometer hardness type D) and less than or equal to 25 Shore D. Inanother example, the hardness of the polymer material at least partiallyor entirely filling the interior cavity and bonded to the face portionwith the bonding agent may be greater than or equal to 10 Shore D andless than or equal to 20 Shore D. In yet another example, the hardnessof the polymer material at least partially or entirely filling theinterior cavity and bonded to the face portion with the bonding agentmay be greater than or equal to 45 Shore D and less than or equal to 65Shore D. In yet another example, the hardness of the polymer material atleast partially or entirely filling the interior cavity and bonded tothe face portion with the bonding agent may be greater than or equal to40 Shore D and less than 80 Shore D. In yet another example, the bondingagent and the polymer material may be selected to have similar orsubstantially similar hardness characteristics. The apparatus, methods,and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in thisregard.

The thickness of the face portion relative to the thickness of thebonding agent may be related to the relative hardnesses of the faceportion material, the bonding agent and/or the polymer material. Arelatively thin face portion may be constructed from a relatively hardermaterial to limit the flexure of the face portion and prevent structuraldamage to the face portion. A relatively thicker face portion may beconstructed from a relatively soft material to increase flexure of theface portion to provide improved golf ball trajectory characteristics.The bonding agent may provide structural support to the face portion andfurther provide dampening and/or reduce vibration and noise.Accordingly, the thickness and/or the hardness of the bonding agent maybe related to the thickness and/or hardness of the face portion toprovide structural support, vibration and noise reduction and/ordampening to the face portion and or the golf club head and/or toprovide improved golf ball trajectory characteristics when the faceportion strikes a golf ball. The polymer material may provide structuralsupport to the face portion and further provide dampening and/or reducevibration and noise. Accordingly, the volume and/or the hardness of thepolymer material may be related to the thickness of the face portion,the hardness of the face portion, the thickness of the bonding agent,and/or the hardness of the bonding agent to provide structural support,vibration and noise reduction and/or dampening to the face portion andor the golf club head and/or to provide improved golf ball trajectorycharacteristics when the face portion strikes a golf ball. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

In one example, the relative thicknesses of the face portion and thebonding agent may be related to the hardnesses of the face portion, thebonding agent and/or the polymer material. The relative thicknesses ofthe face portion and the bonding agent may be expressed by the followingexpressions:

d=ƒ(Dƒ,Db,De)

or

d=ƒ(Dƒ,Db)

or

d=ƒ(Db,De)

Where:

-   -   d=Tb/Tƒ    -   Dƒ>Db>De    -   Dƒ is the hardness of the face portion,    -   Db is the hardness of the bonding agent, and    -   De is the hardness of the polymer material.

According to the above expression, a ratio of the thickness of thebonding agent and the thickness of the face portion may be a function ofthe hardness of the material of the face portion, the hardness of thebonding agent, and/or the hardness of the polymer material. In oneexample, function ƒ may be based on the following expression:

d≅Dƒ/Db

According to the above expression, a ratio of the thickness of thebonding agent and the thickness of the face portion (i.e., d in theabove expression) may be equivalent to a ratio of the hardness of thematerial of the face portion and the hardness of the bonding agent. Inanother example, function ƒ may be based on the following expression:

d≅Dƒ/De

According to the above expression, a ratio of the thickness of thebonding agent and the thickness of the face portion (i.e., d in theabove expression) may be equivalent to a ratio of the hardness of thematerial of the face portion and the hardness of the polymer material.In another example, the function ƒ may be based on the followingexpression:

d≅2Dƒ/(Db+De)

According to the above expression, a ratio of the thickness of thebonding agent and the thickness of the face portion (i.e., d in theabove expression) may be equivalent to a ratio of the hardness of thematerial of the face portion and an average of the hardness of thebonding agent and the hardness of the polymer material. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The bonding agent may be any type of bonding agent such as the bondingagents described herein. In one example, the bonding agent may be DP100Plus Clear epoxy adhesive, DP100 epoxy adhesive, DP420 epoxy adhesive orDP810 epoxy adhesive manufactured by 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn. Inanother example, the bonding agent may be any type of adhesive materialsuch as epoxy having a hardness within any of the hardness rangesdescribed herein and/or having any of the characteristics describedherein. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, as described herein, the polymer material may beinjection molded in the body portion of any of the golf club headsdescribed herein. In other examples. The polymer material may be made orformed by any useful forming means for forming polymers. This include,molding including compression molding, injection molding, blow molding,and transfer molding; film blowing or casting; extrusion, andthermoforming; as well as by lamination, pultrusion, protrusion, drawreduction, rotational molding, spin bonding, melt spinning, meltblowing; or combinations thereof. In another example, any one or more ofthe polymer materials described herein may be in pellet or solid piecesthat may be placed in the interior cavity and expanded and/or cured withheat. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

The interior cavity of any of the golf club heads described herein maybe partially or entirely filled with one or more thermoset materials(e.g., one or more epoxy materials), such as any one or more of theepoxy materials described herein or any other suitable epoxymaterial(s). For example, the interior cavity of any of the golf clubheads described herein may be substantially filled with one or morethermoset materials (e.g., one or more epoxy materials), such as any ofthe epoxy materials described herein or any other suitable epoxymaterial(s). In one example, the interior cavity of any of the golf clubheads described herein may be at least 90% filled with a thermosetmaterial. In another example, the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be at least 80% filled with a thermosetmaterial. In yet another example, the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be at least 70% filled with a thermosetmaterial. In yet another example, the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be at least 60% filled with a thermosetmaterial. In yet another example, the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be at least 50% filled with a thermosetmaterial. In yet another example, the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be partially, substantially, or entirelyfilled with one or more thermoset materials (i.e., at least twothermoset materials). A thermoset material partially, substantially, orentirely filling the interior cavity may affect vibration and noisedampening, structural support for a relatively thin face portion, balltravel distance, ball speed, ball launch angle, ball spin rate, ballpeak height, ball landing angle and/or ball dispersion. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, for example, the interior cavity 2712 of abody portion 2710 of the golf club head 2700, which may be similar toany of the golf club heads described herein, may be filled with athermoset material 2714 (e.g., epoxy material) below the horizontalmidplane 2770 of the golf club head 2700. In another example, theinterior cavity 2712 of the golf club head 2700 or any of the golf clubheads described herein may be filled with a thermoset material (e.g.,epoxy material) above the horizontal midplane 2770 (not shown). In yetanother example, the interior cavity 2712 of the golf club head 2700 orany of the golf club heads described herein may be filled with athermoset material (e.g., epoxy material) above and below the horizontalmidplane 2770 and yet have regions in the interior cavity 2712 that maynot include any thermoset materials or include other materials (notshown). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

As shown in FIG. 28, for example, a golf club head 2800, which may besimilar to any of the golf club heads described herein, may include abody portion 2810 with an interior cavity 2812 having a width 2816 of athermoset material 2814. The width 2814 may be related to face portionthickness 2819 of the face portion 2818 by the following expression:

W _(th) =aT _(ƒ)

Where:

-   -   0.5≤a≤5.0    -   W_(th) is the width of the thermoset material in inches, and    -   T_(ƒ) is the thickness of the face portion in inches.

In one example, the width 2816 of the thermoset material 2814 may begreater than or equal to half the face portion thickness 2819. Inanother example, the width 2816 of the thermoset material 2814 may begreater than or equal to the face portion thickness 2819 (e.g.,W_(th)≥T_(f)). In yet another example, the width 2816 of the thermosetmaterial 2814 may be greater than or equal to twice the face portionthickness 2819 (e.g., W_(th)≥2*T_(f)). In another example, the width2816 of the thermoset material 2814 may be greater than or equal tothree times the face portion thickness 2819 (e.g., W_(th)≥3*T_(f)). Inyet another example, the width 2816 of the thermoset material 2814 maybe greater than five times the face portion thickness 2819 (e.g.,W_(th)≥5*T_(f)). In yet another example, the width 2816 of the thermosetmaterial 2814 may be greater than or equal to the face portion thickness2819 and less than or equal to three times the face portion thickness2819 (e.g., T_(f)≤W_(th)≤3*T_(f)). The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, the mass of the thermoset material (e.g., epoxy)partially, substantially (e.g., filling at least 50% of the interiorcavity), or entirely filling the interior cavity of any of the golf clubheads described herein may be greater than or equal to 6.0 grams andless than or equal to 32.0 grams. In another example, the mass of thethermoset material partially, substantially or entirely filling theinterior cavity of any of the golf club heads described herein may begreater than or equal to 6.0 grams and less than or equal to 24.0 grams.In yet another example, the mass of the thermoset material partially,substantially or entirely filling the interior cavity of any of the golfclub heads described herein may be greater than or equal to 12.0 gramsand less than or equal to 18.0 grams. In yet another example, the massof the thermoset material partially, substantially or entirely fillingthe interior cavity of any of the golf club heads described herein maybe greater than or equal to 16.0 grams and less than or equal to 27.0grams. In yet another example, the mass of the thermoset materialpartially, substantially or entirely filling the interior cavity of anyof the golf club heads described herein may be greater than or equal to20.0 grams and less than or equal to 31.0 grams. In yet another example,the mass of the thermoset material partially, substantially or entirelyfilling the interior cavity of any of the golf club heads describedherein may be greater than or equal to 21.0 grams and less than or equalto 28.0 grams. In yet another example, the mass of the thermosetmaterial partially, substantially or entirely filling the interiorcavity of any of the golf club heads described herein may be greaterthan or equal to 10.0 grams and less than or equal to 20.0 grams. In yetanother example, the mass of the thermoset material partially,substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity of any of thegolf club heads described herein may be greater than or equal to 15.0grams and less than or equal to 30.0 grams. In yet another example, themass of the thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirelyfilling the interior cavity of any of the golf club heads describedherein may be greater than or equal to 20.0 grams and less than or equalto 30.0 grams. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, for any of the golf club heads described herein, themass of a thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirelyfilling the interior cavity may be related to the mass of the golf clubhead by the following expression:

$0.03 \leq \frac{m_{T}}{m_{H}} \leq 0.2$

Where:

-   -   m_(T) is the mass of the thermoset material in grams, and    -   m_(H) is the mass of the golf club head in grams.

In one example, a ratio of the mass of the thermoset material and themass of the golf club head may be greater than or equal to 0.04 and lessthan or equal to 0.08. In another example, a ratio of the mass of thethermoset material and the mass of the golf club head may be greaterthan or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.09. In anotherexample, a ratio of the mass of the thermoset material and the mass ofthe golf club head may be greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than orequal to 0.11. In another example, a ratio of the mass of the thermosetmaterial and the mass of the golf club head may be greater than or equalto 0.09 and less than or equal to 0.12. In another example, a ratio ofthe mass of the thermoset material and the mass of the golf club headmay be greater than or equal to 0.08 and less than or equal to 0.17. Inyet another example, a ratio of the mass of the thermoset material andthe mass of the golf club head may be greater than or equal to 0.01. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

A thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirely filling theinterior cavity may have a certain Shore D hardness to provide vibrationand noise dampening and/or structurally support a relatively thin faceportion of a golf club head. In one example, a thermoset materialpartially, substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity mayhave a Shore D hardness of at least 20. In another example, a thermosetmaterial partially, substantially, or entirely filling the interiorcavity may have a Shore D hardness of greater than or equal to 20 andless than or equal to 80. In another example, a thermoset materialpartially, substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity mayhave a Shore D hardness of greater than or equal to 25 and less than orequal to 45. In yet another example, a thermoset material partially,substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity may have a ShoreD hardness of greater than or equal to 35 and less than or equal to 65.In yet another example, a thermoset material partially, substantially,or entirely filling the interior cavity may have a Shore D hardness ofgreater than or equal to 45 and less than or equal to 75. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

A thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirely filling theinterior cavity may have a certain density to provide vibration andnoise dampening and/or structurally support a relatively thin faceportion of a golf club head. In one example, a thermoset materialpartially, substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity mayhave a density of greater than or equal to 1.0 grams per cubiccentimeter (g/cm³) and less than or equal to 2.0 g/cm³. In anotherexample, a thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirelyfilling the interior cavity may have a density of greater than or equalto 1.1 g/cm³ and less than or equal to 1.5 g/cm³. In yet anotherexample, a thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirelyfilling the interior cavity may have a density of greater than or equalto 1.0 g/cm³ and less than or equal to 1.4 g/cm³. In yet anotherexample, a thermoset material partially, substantially, or entirelyfilling the interior cavity may have a density of greater than or equalto 1.1 g/cm³ and less than or equal to 1.2 g/cm³. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The polymer material (e.g., the thermoset material 2814 as shown in FIG.28) may be located adjacent to the back surface 2821 of the face portion2818. For example, the thermoset material 2814 may be attached and/orbonded directly to the back surface 2821 of the face portion 2818.Alternatively, the thermoset material 2814 may be located away from theface portion 2818. In one example, the thermoset material 2814 beattached and/or bonded to the back wall portion 2875 of the back portion2874. As a result, the thermoset material 2814 may not be in contactwith the back surface 2821 of the face portion 2818. In yet anotherexample, the thermoset material 2814 may be attached and/or bonded tothe back surface 2821 and the back wall portion 2875 but not to the sidewall portion 2876 at or proximate to the top portion 2880 and/or thesole portion 2890. In addition as another example, the thermosetmaterial 2814 may not be attached and/or bonded to the side wall portion2876 at or proximate to the toe portion and/or the heel portion of thegolf club head 2800. That is, the thermoset material 2814 may besuspended in the interior cavity 2812 without contact with the side wallportion 2876 (e.g., 360-degree space around the thermoset material2814). In yet another example, the thermoset material 2814 may beattached and/or bonded to the back surface 2821, the back wall portion2875, and the side wall portion 2876 at or proximate the top portion2880 and the sole portion 2890 but not the toe portion and the heelportion of the golf club head 2800. While the above examples maydescribe the thermoset material 2814 being attached and/or bonded tovarious surfaces and/or wall portions of the golf club head 2800, thethermoset material 2814 may be attached and/or bonded to more or lesssurfaces and/or wall portions. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

As shown in FIG. 29, for example, a golf club head 2900, which may besimilar to any of the golf club heads described herein, may have a bodyportion 2910 include an internal cavity 2912 having an internal cavitywidth that may vary between the top portion 2980 and the sole portion2990. In particular, the internal cavity 2912 may include a first width2920 (W₁) above a horizontal midplane 2970 of the golf club head 2900, asecond width 2930 (W₂) below the horizontal midplane 2970, and a thirdwidth 2940 (W₃) between the first width 2920 and the second width 2930.The third width 2940 may be at or below the horizontal midplane 2970. Inone example, the third width 2940 may be above one or more weight ports(e.g., one generally shown as 2922). Accordingly, the third width 2940may be located above one or more mass portions (not shown in FIG. 29 butfor example, a mass portion disposed in the weight port 2922) and/or becloser to the horizontal midplane 2970 than one or more mass portions.In another example, the third width 2940 may be above one or more weightports of the golf club head 2800 and below the horizontal midplane 2970.The third width 2940 may be greater than the first width 2920 (e.g.,W₃>W₁) and greater than the second width 2930 (e.g., W₃>W₂). In oneexample, the first width 2920 may be greater than or equal to the secondwidth 2930 (e.g., W₂≥W₁). In another example, the second width 2930 maybe greater than or equal to the first width 2920 (e.g., W₁≥W₂). In yetanother example, the third width 2940 may be no more than three timesthe second width 2930. In yet another example, the third width 2940 maybe no more than twice the second width 2930. In yet another example, thethird width 2940 may be no more than 1.5 times the second width 2930. Inyet another example, the third width 2940 may be no more than 1.25 timesthe second width 2930. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The third width 2940 may be at a certain vertical location of the bodyportion 2910. The face portion 2918 of the golf club head 2900 mayinclude a plurality of grooves. The face portion 2918 of the golf clubhead 2900 may include a similar number of grooves as the golf club head100 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the face portion 2918 may include aplurality of grooves (e.g., eleven grooves are generally shown asgrooves 2951, 2952, 2953, 2954, 2955, 2956, 2957, 2957, 2959, 2960, and2961 in FIG. 29). In one example, the third width 2940 may be locatedbetween the third groove 2953 and the eleventh groove 2961 from the soleportion 2990. In another example, the third width 2940 may be locatedbetween the fourth groove 2954 and the eighth groove 2958 from the soleportion 2990. In yet another example, the third width 2940 may belocated between the fifth groove 2955 and the seventh groove 2957 fromthe sole portion 2990. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, the process of filling the interior cavity of the golfclub head may not include applying a bonding portion to the back surfaceof the face portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 30, the process 3000of filling the interior cavity of the golf club head may includepartially, substantially, or entirely filling the interior cavity withan epoxy material (block 3010), and then curing the epoxy material(block 3020). The epoxy material may be injected into the interiorcavity from one or more ports on the body portion of a golf club head asdescribed herein. In one example, the process of curing the epoxymaterial may include using heat, radiation, and/or pressure for acertain period of time. In another example, the process of curing theepoxy material may only include allowing the epoxy material to cure atambient or room temperature for a certain period of time. In anotherexample, the process of filling the interior cavity of the golf clubhead may include applying a first epoxy material to the back surface ofthe face portion, curing the first epoxy material to a first cure stateas described herein, filling the interior cavity with a second epoxymaterial that may be the same as or different from the first epoxymaterial, and curing the first epoxy material to the second cure stateand curing the second epoxy material as described herein. In anotherexample, more than two epoxy materials can be used to substantially orfully fill the interior cavity with single or multiple curing processesused for each epoxy material. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The heating and cooling processes described herein may be performed byconduction, convention, and/or radiation. For example, all of theheating and cooling processes may be performed by using heating orcooling systems that employ conveyor belts that move the golf club head100 through a heating or cooling environment for a period of time asdescribed herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

Although a particular order of actions may be described herein withrespect to one or more processes, these actions may be performed inother temporal sequences. Further, two or more actions in any of theprocesses described herein may be performed sequentially, concurrently,or simultaneously.

While the above examples may described an iron-type or a wedge-type golfclub head, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein may be applicable to other types of golf club heads.

A numerical range defined using the word “between” includes numericalvalues at both end points of the numerical range. A spatial rangedefined using the word “between” includes any point within the spatialrange and the boundaries of the spatial range. A location expressedrelative to two spaced apart or overlapping elements using the word“between” includes (i) any space between the elements, (ii) a portion ofeach element, and/or (iii) the boundaries of each element.

The terms “and” and “or” may have both conjunctive and disjunctivemeanings. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless thisdisclosure indicates otherwise. The term “coupled” and any variationthereof refer to directly or indirectly connecting two or more elementschemically, mechanically, and/or otherwise. The phrase “removablyconnected” is defined such that two elements that are “removablyconnected” may be separated from each other without breaking ordestroying the utility of either element.

The term “substantially” when used to describe a characteristic,parameter, property, or value of an element may represent deviations orvariations that do not diminish the characteristic, parameter, property,or value that the element may be intended to provide. Deviations orvariations in a characteristic, parameter, property, or value of anelement may be based on, for example, tolerances, measurement errors,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors. The term “proximate”is synonymous with terms such as “adjacent,” “close,” “immediate,”“nearby”, “neighboring”, etc., and such terms may be usedinterchangeably as appearing in this disclosure.

The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein maybe implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoingdescription of some of these embodiments does not necessarily representa complete description of all possible embodiments. Instead, thedescription of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose atleast one embodiment, and may disclosure alternative embodiments.

As the rules of golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulationsmay be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golfstandard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United StatesGolf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews(R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein may be conforming ornon-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly,golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/orsold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Although certain example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers allapparatus, methods, and articles of articles of manufacture fairlyfalling within the scope of the appended claims either literally orunder the doctrine of equivalents.

1. A golf club head comprising: a polymer material associated with acoefficient of restitution (COR) greater than or equal to 0.75 and aShore D hardness of at least 25; a body portion comprising a firstmaterial, the body portion comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, atop portion, a sole portion, a front portion, a back portion, anopening, and an interior cavity partially or entirely filled with thepolymer material through the opening, the first material having adensity between 7.0 grams per cubic centimeter and 8.3 grams per cubiccentimeter; and a mass portion comprising a second material differentfrom the first material, the mass portion located farther from the heelportion than the toe portion, and the mass portion located at adifferent location than the opening.
 2. A golf club head as defined inclaim 1, wherein the first material comprises a stainless steel materialcomprising one or more of: a tensile strength between 600 millionNewtons per square meter (600 Megapascals) and 800 million Newtons persquare meter (800 Megapascals); a yield strength between 500 millionNewtons per square meter (500 Megapascals) and 700 million Newtons persquare meter (700 Megapascals); a hardness of between 10 RockwellHardness in the C scale (HRC) and 40 HRC; or an elongation of between 5%and 40%.
 3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 wherein the polymermaterial comprises a thermoset material.
 4. A golf club head as definedin claim 1, wherein the polymer material comprises a thermoset materialhaving a Shore D hardness of greater than or equal to 40 and less thanor equal to
 80. 5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein thepolymer material comprises a thermoset material having a density ofgreater than or equal to 1.0 g/cm³ and less than or equal to 2.0 g/cm³.6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the polymer materialcomprises a thermoset material associated with a COR greater than orequal to 0.8.
 7. A golf club head comprising: a body portion comprisinga material associated with a first density, the body portion having atoe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a frontportion, and a back portion; a thermoset material having a coefficientof restitution (COR) greater than or equal to 0.75; an interior cavityat least 50% filled with the thermoset material; an opening connected tothe interior cavity; and a mass portion comprising a material associatedwith a second density different than the first density, the mass portionlocated at or below a horizontal midplane of the body portion andlocated farther from the heel portion than the toe portion, and the massportion located at a different location than the opening.
 8. A golf clubhead as defined in claim 7, wherein the thermoset material comprises athermoset material having a COR greater than or equal to 0.8.
 9. A golfclub head as defined in claim 7 further comprising a face portioncoupled to the body portion, the face portion having a face portionthickness, and wherein a ratio of a width of the thermoset material anda face portion thickness of the golf club head is greater than or equalto 0.2 and less than or equal to 5.0.
 10. A golf club head as defined inclaim 7, wherein the thermoset material comprises a thermoset materialhaving a Shore D hardness of greater than or equal to 25 and less thanor equal to
 65. 11. A golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein thethermoset material comprises a thermoset material having a density ofgreater than or equal to 1.0 g/cm³ and less than or equal to 2.0 g/cm³.12. A golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the interior cavityis filled with the thermoset material below the horizontal midplane ofthe golf club head.
 13. A golf club head comprising: a cavity fillingmaterial associated with a coefficient of restitution (COR) greater thanor equal to 0.8; a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, atop portion, a sole portion, a front portion, a back portion, and aninterior cavity at least partially filled with the cavity fillingmaterial; a port located at or proximate to the toe portion, the portbeing configured to receive the cavity filling material; a face portionhaving a thickness of less than or equal to about 1.9 millimeters (0.075inch); and a mass portion located at a different location than the port.14. A golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the mass portion ispartially or entirely located above a horizontal midplane.
 15. A golfclub head as defined in claim 13, wherein the mass portion is partiallyor entirely located below the horizontal midplane.
 16. A golf club headas defined in claim 13, wherein the cavity filling material isconfigured to bond to the face portion.
 17. A golf club head as definedin claim 13, wherein the mass portion is located closer to the heelportion than the toe portion.
 18. A golf club head as defined in claim13 further comprising a hosel portion, wherein the mass portion islocated at or proximate to the hosel portion.
 19. A golf club head asdefined in claim 13, wherein the interior cavity comprises a first widthabove a horizontal midplane of the golf club head, a second width belowthe horizontal midplane, and a third width between the first width andthe second width, wherein the third width is greater than the firstwidth and greater than the second width.
 20. A golf club head as definedin claim 13, wherein the interior cavity comprises a first width above ahorizontal midplane of the golf club head, a second width below thehorizontal midplane, and a third width between the first width and thesecond width, wherein the third width is greater than the first widthand greater than the second width, and wherein the third width is belowthe horizontal midplane and above the mass portion.